News archive 2004

Talking Peace: Somerset House 1604

13 May 2004, PR 23/04

King’s College London and Somerset House to celebrate the fourth centenary of the Treaty of London

To commemorate the fourth centenary of the Treaty of London between England and Spain negotiated and signed at Somerset House in 1604, King’s College London and the Somerset House Trust have organised ‘Talking Peace 1604’, a programme of events of which Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Chancellor of the University of London, is Patron.

‘This peace treaty, between Spain and England, ended the hostilities which had existed between the two countries during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, and marked the beginning of a new phase of political and cultural contact,’ explained Acting Principal Professor Barry Ife, one of the driving forces behind the series.

The 1604 conference was commemorated in two group portraits of the two negotiating teams. The focal point of these celebrations is a special exhibition entitled ‘Talking Peace 1604: The Somerset House Conference Paintings’ which will be staged at the Gilbert Collection, Somerset House, from 20 May to 25 July 2004. The two versions of the painting – one by Juan Pantoja de la Cruz – of the English and Spanish diplomats and statesmen who negotiated the Treaty, will be brought together for the first time in centuries.

Other events, exploring the historical and cultural significance of the centenary, include:

• two conferences to be held at King’s:
    - one on the historical context, opened by Denis McShane, Minister for Europe, with the leading experts in the field and organised by Dr Robert Frost, Head of the Department of History [27 – 29 May]
    - one on literary culture in Spain and England organised by Professor Barry Ife, Acting Principal [25 June]
• a variety of seminars celebrating the cultural life of Jacobean London including ‘Plays and Playhouses’ investigating Spanish and English theatrical traditions [10 June]
• two concerts in the Chapel at the Strand providing a musical celebration of Catholicism in England and Spain, and music from the countries’ 16th century royal composers [3 and 25 June]
• Spanish language programmes at beginner, intermediate and advanced-level organised by the King’s Modern language Centre [beginning 28 June].

www.somerset-house.org.uk/1604/

Notes to editors

King’s College London
King’s is one of the oldest and largest colleges of the University of London with 13,800 undergraduate students and some 5,300 postgraduates in ten schools of study. The College had 24 of its subject-areas awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level. King’s is in the top group of five universities for research earnings with income from grants and contracts of more than £93 million (2002-2003) and has an annual turnover of £320 million. King’s is a member of the Russell Group, a coalition of the UK’s major research-based universities.

175th Anniversary of King’s College London
King’s College London is marking its 175 anniversary in 2004 with a year of events and celebrations. As well as this conference there are include lectures; the publication of a College history; a film festival; exhibitions; a service at Westminster Abbey, and much more.
www.kcl.ac.uk/175

Further information
Public Relations Department
Email: pr@kcl.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7848 3202

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