Sotheby’s Institute of Art Panel Discussion: Does the Artist’s Muse Have a Place in the Modern World?

In this panel discussion, leading art historians and lecturers from Sotheby’s Institute of Art (Dr David Bellingham, Dr Amy Mechowski and Dan Vo) will discuss the role, representation and history of the muse, across time and cultures, from ancient Greece to today.

What is the origin of the muse? We all know the likes of Elizabeth Siddall but have other muses been overlooked? Who has been a significant muse? Should the outdated label be cancelled, or do we need to reconsider the term for today? Which muses have changed art history? What is the future of the muse?

The event will be chaired by Ruth Millington, Author of Muse (2022, Vintage Publishing) and a faculty member at Sotheby’s Institute of Art.

This event is in partnership with Sotheby’s Institute of Art