‘Our Heroes of Today’ Angels and Victims

Recorded during a live event on
Thursday 4th February, 6-7pm, Zoom

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‘Angels and victims: representations of women on life saving medals in Victorian Britain’ with Rachel Barclay


Following Craig Barclay’s talk on creation of heroes in Victorian Britain, this talk focuses in on the representation of women on the medals awarded to these heroes. 

While men are often depicted as heroes, women are far more likely to be defenceless victims in need of saving.  This can be related to wider issues regarding the role of women in Victorian society and broader trends in art in the UK at this time. Join Rachel as she delves further into this fascinating subject.

Rachel Barclay is Curator for the Oriental Museum, Durham University.

Rachel originally trained as an Egyptologist, participating in excavations in the Valley of the Nobles in Luxor. She then spent several years working in international marketing across Southern Europe, North Africa and China before returning to the museum sector to join the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University.

Rachel is heavily involved in university teaching across a range of departments on topics ranging from Ancient Egypt to East Asian art. And internationally, Rachel has worked on Durham University research projects and partnerships with museums in China, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Vietnam.