Penelope Curtis, Director of Tate Britain, begins the first of five Paul Mellon Lectures in Trafalgar Square, with Nelson’s Column and Charing Cross. Focusing on the verticality of sculptures in many forms—including columns, crosses, milestones, markers, sundials, and beacons—the lecture concludes with an examination of the way in which the Ruthwell Monument combines these various attributes.



This lecture is part of the Paul Mellon Lectures 2015: Sculpture on the Threshold. The Paul Mellon Lectures are given biennially by an invited specialist in British art, first at the National Gallery, London, and again at the Yale Center for British Art. This series of five lectures, delivered by Penelope Curtis, Director of Tate Britain, takes a wide-ranging look at the underlying forms of sculpture. Focusing on four key aspects—vertical, horizontal, closed, and open—the lectures explore sculptural forms across time and examine fundamental continuities. Lectures on April 16 and 30 will be held at the Yale University Art Gallery. Lectures on April 21, 23, and 28 will be held at the Loria Center, 190 York Street, Room 250. A reception will follow the lecture on April 16. Jointly sponsored by the Yale Center for British Art and the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art