Can you present yourself ?
I’m Julia Martins, and I’m a historian – I’m particularly interested in gender history and the history of medicine and alchemy. I grew up in Brazil and I took my undergraduate studies in history there, before moving to Paris and Bologna for my master’s degrees, in which I analysed the translations of early modern books of secrets. Then I moved to London for my PhD, where I continued to research the topic of how knowledge is reshaped as it is diffused, focusing on the translation of recipes about reproduction and the female body – everything from conception to childbirth! I currently have a YouTube channel and blog, Living History, where I explore the history of everyday life and make academic research accessible. I also run a feminist book club for charity, called My Body, My Book Club.
How did you start to collect books or to develop an interest for art and culture ?
I grew up surrounded by books; my mother worked as a translator and many of the books in our house were in French. She encouraged me to study languages and got me interested in art history and literature. I’ve always enjoyed collecting books – I think they are what turn a house into a home. When I was living in Bologna, I used to visit antiquarian booksellers during my spare time, and when I came across some of the recipe books I was researching, I couldn’t help myself! After moving to the UK, I continued to explore the world of rare books and, after working at the incredible Wellcome Library for a while, I ended up buying a few more items. Now, I’m always on the lookout for incredible books – especially if they’re reasonably priced!
What work of art has left its mark on you ?
I will never forget when I first saw Jacques-Fabien Gautier D’Agoty’s 1764 painting, ‘A Pregnant Woman, dissected’, at the Wellcome Collection. The same goes for the many dissected women in midwifery manuals, such as in Jane Sharp’s book, or Clemente Susini’s Anatomical Venus. The mysterious female body opening its secrets to the (usually male) viewer was so mesmerising… These women’s faces look peaceful, yet they’re exposed, dissected, in layers, in parts. We can’t help but feel voyeuristic, at once fascinated and repelled by them.
What cultural events do you participate in ?
I love going to book clubs and art galleries, and museums in general (the British Library’s current exhibition on Medieval Women is incredible, and I highly recommend you check it out if you’re in London – they also have plenty of online events). I also enjoy visiting old country houses, of which there are many in the UK, and some of them have incredible treasures in their libraries. I also love ballet, especially contemporary ballet – I’m a big fan of Pina Bausch’s hypnotising work.
What are your cultural projects ? What is your bibliophile dream ?
I would love to continue to develop my network of history-lovers and book-enthusiasts, and to collaborate in joint projects, especially about the history of women. I would also love to explore more of the history and culture of Brazil; it is so rich and so little-known outside of it! As for my bibliophile dream, perhaps a library like Umberto Eco’s…?! That’s perhaps not very realistic, though. I would love to own Caterina Sforza’s recipe collection, but that seems just as unlikely. More realistically, anything by the ever-fascinating Leonardo Fioravanti, as I have been in love with him since my Bologna days…
