PICTURED: Masterpieces on display at West Midlands art gallery

Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT) is said to hold one of the finest collections of European paintings in the UK, containing many works of international significance.

Some of the best are going to be re-displayed at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) following a two-year research project into the collection, which will make the artworks more accessible to the public.

The project has been made possible thanks to a National Gallery Curatorial Traineeship supported by the Art Fund with the assistance of the Vivmar Foundation, in partnership with BMT.

Curatorial trainee Helen Hillyard is behind the research project to transform the two galleries of 17th century European art at BMAG to make them more visitor friendly.

This will include the re-displaying of important works, the creation of family trails and the introduction of interactive features to engage audiences of all ages.

Work from northern Europe will go on display in Gallery 24 with Gallery 25 focussing on southern Europe. It will be the first time French paintings have been displayed as a group within the gallery. It will illustrate the 'baroque' style across diverse art forms, displaying sculptural works next to the paintings as part of a display supported by the Henry Moore Foundation.

The galleries contain an exceptional collection of Italian Baroque painting including the only autograph work by Orazio Gentileschi in a public collection in the UK. Also featured is work by famous artists such as Peter Lely, Peter Paul Rubens and Claude Lorrain, as well as Guercino's masterpiece Erminia and the Shepherd.

Helen also researched Birmingham Museums' collection of Dutch, Flemish and Italian paintings and sculptures and has overseen the development of new displays and educational resources aimed at children and young people as part of the project.

The Baroque Galleries will be re-launched at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on June 18.

Helen said: "In spite of the strength of Birmingham Museums' collection, there had previously been little opportunity to undertake new research into the collection, nor review how it might be better interpreted to effectively engage new audiences.

"The partnership with the National Gallery has enhanced the research and documentation around this collection and is now being used to inform a redisplay of the two 17th century galleries. This will improve the visitor experience of the galleries, transforming the quality of the display, interpretation and educational resources in order to further visitor engagement, particularly amongst families and school groups."

Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said: "We launched this scheme with the National Gallery to address the need to develop curatorial skills in UK museums and galleries.

"Helen's wonderful research project into 17th century European art, that has led to this exhibition, will have immediate and significant impact on the visiting public.

"We must all continue to support and invest in our museums, their collections and their staff."