My work as curator in the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden is focused on the collections of Greek and Roman artefacts. My academic teaching in the Faculty of Humanities allows me to share my knowledge with students and introduce them to the material culture of ancient Greece and Rome.

More information about Ruurd Halbertsma

Fields of interest

• Greek and Roman material culture
• History of collecting antiquities in Europe
• 19th century Museum History
• Museology

Research

The collections of Greek and Roman art in European museums are intrinsically linked by their origin in private collections. These were created from the early renaissance onwards, for different reasons and motives. With the emergence of National Museums in the late 18th and 19th centuries, collecting became a political issue. I have studied and published much about the Dutch activities in this field in relation with other European collections.

Grants and Awards

- Fellowship Society of Antiquaries of London (SAL)

Curriculum vitae

Ruurd Binnert Halbertsma (1958) studied Classics, Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Leiden. He wrote his Phd about the archaeological travels of the Dutch Colonel Jean-Emile Humbert (1771-1839), who was one of the archaeological pioneers in the Mediterranean area. Apart from his work as curator in the National Museum of Antiquities, Ruurd Halbertsma is also attached to the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS).

Publications

Activities