Zoom event: ‘Zurburan and The Boys’, a Conversation@theRRC with David Pott on the connections between Faith and Art
“The Boys” is an affectionate term sometimes used to describe the outstanding portraits of Jacob and his twelve sons by the Spanish artist Francisco de Zurbarán, housed at Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland. Join local author David Pott who will be discussing his book Listening to the Boys: Meditations on Francisco de Zurbaran’s Jacob and His Twelve Sons, and answering questions including:
Why did he write this book?
Is there anything about these works (or the artist) that he thinks anyone encountering these paintings should know or be aware of?
Which of ‘the boys’ is he most fond of and why?
Which of the paintings does he find the most perplexing?
If art is an expression of faith what does he think these paintings are telling us about the faith of Zurbaran?
Author David Pott lives in Binchester near Bishop Auckland and is involved in a number of initiatives in the local area. He is the Pilgrimage Routes Coordinator for The Northern Saints Trails. David has had a keen interest in art and art history since he was a teenager. Since he first encountered Zurbarán’s portraits of Jacob and His Twelve Sons six years ago, he has been researching and reflecting on their significance and what “The Boys” have to teach us today.
View the recording of the event here