Centre for Art History and Art Theory lecturer Dr. Robert Wellington's book, Antiquarianism and the Visual Histories of Louis XIV: Artifacts for a Future Past (2015), has lately received international attention in a number of positive reviews published in The Burlington Magazine, Renaissance Quarterly, The Court Historian, and Revue de l'Art.

‘Perhaps the only criticism to be levelled against this engaging scholarly masterpiece might be a quibble with the title and the prominence of the term ‘antiquarianism’ for the simple if unfair reason it is bound to turn off some readers who would otherwise profit from a topic that bears upon all the visual arts, the institutions supporting them, and the history of collecting and display in early modern France.’ Louis Marchesano, The Burlington Magazine 1363 (October, 2016), 833.

‘[T]he serious and systematic way in which Wellington uses the visual and material evidence, and the sureness of his interpretation, combined with his mastery of the intellectual currents that drove and shaped the commemoration of Louis’reign, make this a fascinating and enlightening treatment of an extraordinary undertaking.’Mark Jones, “Addressed to Posterity: The Visual Histories of Louis XIV,” The Court Historian 21, 1 (2016), 52-3

‘Robert Wellington shows in his work his perfect knowledge of the history and literature of the Grand Siècle. […] [This book is] a new milestone in the comprehension of the Republic of Letters, the history of the medal, and artistic politics of Louis XIV.’ [‘Robert Wellington montre dans son ouvrage sa parfaite connaissance du Grand Siècle, de son histoire et de sa littérature. [Ce livre est] un nouveau jalon dans la compréhension de la République des lettres, de l’histoire de la médaille et de la politique artistique de Louis XIV.’] Ludovic Jouvet, “Bibliographie critique,” Revue de l’Art 193/2016-3 (October 2016), 74.

‘[T]his thoroughly researched, beautifully illustrated book should serve as an invaluable resource for many years to come.’ Ellen McClure, Renaissance Quarterly vol. LXIX, 4 (Winter, 2016).