« James Forbes (1749-1819), Discovery and Perplexity », par Ethel Groffier (McGill)

Une conférence aura lieu demain (le 27 février), à l'Université McGill. Il s'agit de la conférence d'Ethel Groffier, intitulée « James Forbes (1749-1819), Discovery and Perplexity » et organisée par Rare and Special Collections, Osler, Art, and Archives (ROAAr).

L'événement aura lieu entre 17 h 30 et 19 h, au McLennan Library Building Colgate Seminar Room, Rare Books and Special Collections (4th floor), 3459 rue McTavish, à Montréal.

Voici une description sommaire (en anglais seulement) de la conférence :

« Taken individually, artist and writer James Forbes' works are deceptive. There is the not too inspiring account of a "grand tour" in manuscript form, a collection of letters giving a somewhat dismayed description of France on the eve of the first empire and a book on India marvelously illustrated by a young romantic artist. Read together, however, they throw a singularly interesting light on two of the main events of the time: the effect of the French revolution on various countries of Europe and the rocky development of the British colonial empire. They also raise questions about Forbes' reaction to some of the controversies that divided public opinion in England. Was he completely blind to the exactions of the East India Company? Did he really believe that Christianisation would make Indians happy? And, above all, how do we judge people of the past? »