The “Artistic Networks of Trust: Collecting and Dealing in Times of War and Diplomacy” conference will take place from 8-10 October at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Auditorium 3). The entrance is free but subject to room capacity. It will also be live streamed. Taking Calouste Gulbenkian as its central figure and placing particular emphasis on the role of Armenian networks, this event seeks to shed light on the complex social, political, and cultural dynamics that shaped the production, circulation, collecting, and display of artworks from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century.

Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian emerges as a key figure within these transnational networks, acting as a collector, businessman, diplomat, and patron. His activity was closely intertwined with a broad network of relationships – many of them within the context of the Armenian diaspora – revealing how personal trust, community solidarity, and cultural affinities were essential to sustaining artistic exchange during periods of profound geopolitical upheaval.

Over the course of three days, a group of scholars will examine how these networks of trust supported the art world in contexts marked by migration, war, and diplomacy. Featuring new, unpublished research and insights from recent in-depth studies of the Gulbenkian Collection and Archives, the panels will explore a wide range of topics, including the emergence of art markets in the Qajar and Ottoman Empires; the impact of WWI and WWII on dealing and collecting; the role of international exhibitions in moving objects and people, as well as marking alliances; and the intersections between art, philanthropy, and benevolence.

Find the full programme and access the livestream: