**Research Firsts Exhibition: Image and accompanying text by Laurence Grove**
![Andrea Alciato’s 16th-century image of ivy clinging to the dead tree][1]
In 1992 I had my first article published, on the theme of ivy in emblems, using Andrea Alciato’s 16th-century image: ivy clinging to the dead tree is like everlasting friendship, amicitia etiam post mortem durans.
My supervisor at the University of Pittsburgh, Daniel Russell, told me about Glasgow’s Stirling Maxwell emblem book collection, the world’s best, in a wonderful place. I have now lived in Glasgow for over a quarter century and am Director of the Stirling Maxwell Centre. I have no intention of dying, but my Amicitia, with Glasgow, the University, the place and the people, is everlasting.
[1]: https://osf.io/download/65564412062a3e1608edfdde/