Transatlantic Ties: Fulbright Research on the Rothschild Legacy at the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Paris
Mila Wolpert (Fulbright Program)
This will be a hybrid event held in-person at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Downing Street, Cambridge and Online on Zoom.
To Registration to attend online click to here
This paper explores the significance of a Rothschild art collection for diplomacy, and how heritage research can serve as a valuable tool on different levels of engagement. Over two centuries, the Rothschilds amassed collections across Europe that now represent several countries’ national heritage. Drawing on research conducted on a Fulbright award to France, this paper investigates Baron Edmond de Rothschild’s (1845-1934) art and furniture collection that once adorned the rooms at the current-U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Paris, France. The collection was handed down to the Baron’s descendants and much of it was stolen during World War II. This paper demonstrates how heritage research can build connections between countries by tracing a collection’s provenance. This paper also investigates the challenges that arise when researching a collection with a complicated past. Overall, this paper highlights the value of heritage for diplomacy, and the potential it holds for building bridges between nations.
Mila Wolpert completed her MPhil in Heritage Studies at the University of Cambridge in 2020 and worked as Assistant Curator at Althorp, one of England’s premier historic houses, from 2020 -2021. She is currently on a Fulbright Research Award in Paris, France, investigating the Rothschild period at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence. Her interest lies in the intersection between diplomacy and heritage.