Prestige & Power

Projecting identity in 17th-century Portraiture Artists, writers, politicians and royalty come under the spotlight in this display, which explores how portraiture was used to assert status, celebrate achievements and project individuality in the 17th century. It features prints, drawings and miniatures from the Barber’s own collection along with miniatures on loan from two fine private … Read more

Flinck in Focus

A Question of Identity in 17th-century Dutch Portraiture One of Rembrandt’s most talented pupils, Govert Flinck was a highly prized and extremely successful portraitist and history painter, with a reputation that grew to match even that of his master. He was particularly popular for his portraits of children – a genre his teacher eschewed. But his … Read more

FAMILY CIRCLES

British Portrait Miniatures of Children and Families The family – and how its members are depicted on portrait miniatures – is the theme of this display of outstanding small British (and one French) masterpieces from two important English private collections. Complementing the exhibition Ruby’s Room, it includes delightful and intimate little portraits of children, brothers, … Read more

RUBY’S ROOM

Photographic Miniatures by Bettina von Zwehl An intriguing eye miniature in the collection of the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, was the starting point for this series of recent work by renowned contemporary photographer Bettina von Zwehl (b. 1971). While  producing a series of works inspired by historic painted portrait miniatures in the V&A and Bath’s … Read more

FUNCTION 4

Portraiture Highly original and arresting angles on the theme of portraiture feature in this display of work by emerging photographic talent from Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham City University. In the fourth of an annual selective award collaboration, students were challenged to produce their own responses to the theme that has been central … Read more