CFP: Marks and brands on 16th and 17th century paintings on panel and copper

In preparation of the Marks on Art symposium on 30 October 2025, organized by the RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History, the academic committee invites scholars to submit proposals for papers on marks and brands on the reverses of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish paintings on panel and copper.

Marks on Art database

In November 2024, RKD launched the Marks on Art database, a pioneering resource for studying marks on artworks, now available to scholars worldwide. This database opens new avenues for research into the significance and identification of various marks, materials, and production processes.

Symposium

The Marks on Art symposium celebrates the recently launched Marks on Art database and the forthcoming publication of the revised and expanded edition of Jørgen Wadum’s seminal article, ‘The Antwerp Brand on Paintings on Panel’ (1998), in RKD Studies (Autumn 2025).

This event will explore marks and brands on the reverses of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish paintings on panel and copper. Lumberjacks marked planks for transport. Panel and copperplate makers often marked their products with a personal monogram. Marks by the local Guild of Saint Luke ensured the quality of the materials used. Together, these and other marks provide unique information about the artwork’s dating and place of origin, shedding light on attribution, authenticity and the production process.

The academic committee invites submissions for this conference, which will highlight and expand research on marks on paintings. The deadline for proposals is 28 February 2025.

For more information and the Call for Papers, please click here.