Bowes Book Club: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

Explore Renaissance art, power and storytelling through Maggie O’Farrell’s compelling novel at Bowes Book Club.Travel to Renaissance Italy for a curator-led discussion of The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell.

Reimagining the life of Lucrezia de’ Medici, the novel follows a young duchess navigating marriage, power and an unfamiliar court.Jane Whittaker, Collections Manager, will introduce the session and illuminate the world of Renaissance Italy through paintings and portraits in the museum’s collection.

A hand-picked selection of objects will open up connections between the book, its historical setting and the art of the period, providing rich opportunities for lively conversation.Bowes Book Club welcomes avid readers, museum enthusiasts and anyone curious about how fiction can offer fresh perspectives on art and history.

Enjoy thoughtful discussion and close engagement with the collection in the inspiring surroundings of The Bowes Museum.