UCL FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

A celebration of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's tercentenary at UCL Art Museum

Exhibition dates: 9 January to 27 April 2012

A celebration of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s tercentenary at UCL Art Museum
Exhibition dates: 9 January – 27 April 2012.

This exhibition features rare items from UCL’s art and book collections to mark the 300th anniversary of the birth of one of the most controversial authors in the history of philosophy, Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778).

Among the items on show are first editions of Rousseau’s works, including On the Social Contract (Du contrat social, 1762), frontispieces and translations. The display highlights his unique and interdisciplinary characteristics as a philosopher who not only wrote on politics, economics and education, but also composed music and wrote best-selling novels. A significant part is dedicated to Rousseau’s engagement with the philosophical tradition (from Plato to Locke) and his own posthumous reception by revolutionaries and conservatives alike.

Rousseau 300 is a collaboration between the UCL Centre for Transnational History, UCL Art Museum and UCL Special Collections.

Featuring objects from UCL’s collections, the British Museum and the Voltaire Foundation, the show coincides with an international conference marking Rousseau’s tercentenary and a special performance of his rarely produced opera, Le Devin du village (UCL, 19-21 April 20).

For further information visit the UCL Art Museum website.