Stephanie Howard-Smith, PhD student at Queen Mary University of London, will explore the association between black servants and lapdogs in 18th-century Europe.

Lapdogs and black manservants were considered to be essential fashion accessories for wealthy women in Georgian Britain and abroad and the two feature together countless times in porcelain figurines, frescos, portraits and satirical prints. Yet many writers and social commentators were disturbed by the poor treatment of humans compared to these spoilt and pampered pets – including the slaves whose labour on Caribbean plantations often funded the lavish lifestyle of many lapdogs.

FREE after usual admission fee
No booking required