The first workshop of our research group Materialized Identities: Objects, Affects and Effects in Early Modern Culture, 1450–1750 took place in Cambridge on 6th and 7th October 2016. It is the first of a series of workshops that will foster the researchers’ discussions by linking them with further experts of the fields. Organised by Ulinka Rublack and Stefan Hanß, we had joint discussions with Prof Deborah Howard (author of a number of books on Renaissance Venice such as Veni