Europe Divided: Huguenot Refugee Art and Culture

Tessa Murdoch, research curator of the Gilbert Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, presents a beautifully illustrated, wide-ranging study of Huguenot craftsmanship, migration, and trading networks in Europe Divided: Huguenot Refugee Art and Culture.

This richly illustrated full-color book explores the extraordinary international networks that emerged from the diaspora of more than 200,000 Huguenot refugees who left France in the late seventeenth century and joined communities already in exile across Europe and beyond. Indeed, George Washington—along with twenty other U.S. presidents—was a descendant of Huguenots.

Among the first generation of refugees were hundreds of trained artists, designers, and craftsmen. Beyond France's borders, they elevated standards of design and workshop practice, passing their skills to apprentices, relatives, and future generations who would continue to shape the luxury trades. Although silver and silks are the fields most often associated with Huguenot settlers, their influence extended to architecture, ceramics, furniture, engraving, sculpture, portraiture, clock- and watchmaking, woodwork, and art education.

Supported by extensive research and featuring color illustrations throughout, this landmark study reveals how a highly skilled refugee community helped drive innovation, cultural exchange, and artistic excellence across Europe. Through the interconnected worlds of decorative arts, craftsmanship, trade, and patronage, Europe Divided offers a compelling new perspective on migration, design history, and the lasting impact of the Huguenot diaspora.