Victorian views put in the frame
It has been months in the making, but a special Victorian display at Wolverhampton Art Gallery is now just days away from its grand unveiling.
The Victorian Gallery at the venue has been closed since the end of last year to allow it to be transformed with a refurbishment and revamp of the display, carried out thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery.
Many items are from local industrialists Philip Horsman and Sidney Cartwright, the founders of Wolverhampton Art Gallery which opened in 1884, who donated their personal collections of Victorian art to the city.
The new-look exhibition is the culmination of two years in the planning and months in the preparation, giving visitors a fascinating insight into what life was like during the era.
Today, gallery workers were putting the finishing touches to the attraction ready for its relaunch on Saturday, which will be marked with a open day.
It will feature artworks and decorative objects from Wolverhampton Arts and Museums' extensive collection, some of which have not been on show for a number of years.
The gallery will also include work from various countries across the world and well-known British artists such as William Knight Keeling, Cranbrook Colony artist Edmund John Niemann and work from local artist and curator George Wallis, who went on to be The Keeper of The Art Collections at The Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Marketing assistant Jo Penn said today: "The refurbishment has seen new floors and the gallery redecorated. We have got artwork and objects in the display, some of which have not been seen for a number of years. I hope as some of the pieces have been donated to the founders of the gallery, it is quite important to the people of Wolverhampton."
As part of the open day throughout Saturday, there will be workshops for children with a Victorian theme, performances inspired by some of the pieces in the exhibition, written by local playwright group the New City Playwrights and performed by a cast of professional actors.
There will also be Japanese sword demonstrations at 11am and 2pm.
The heritage lottery grant of £249,000 has also funded the opening earlier this year of the Victorian Rooms at Bantock House in Wolverhampton. For more information about the displays, visit the website www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk
To celebrate the displays and the Victorians, visit the blog at www.victorianwolverhampton.com
