Tales of the City

From bustling alleys and intricate architectural detail, to sweeping panoramas of grand public celebrations and towering monuments, this display of prints and drawings captures the vibrancy and expansion of European cities from the 17th to the 19th century.  Curated to mark the recent acquisition of two views of Paris after Thomas Girtin (right), it includes … Read more

All the World’s a Stage

Court, Patrons & Writers in Shakespeare’s Circle Marking the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, this exhibition, the Barber’s first ever exploring Elizabethan and Jacobean art, focuses on the Bard’s chief patrons at court, and on other leading writers – rivals and associates. Organised in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery, London, it features … Read more

Curious Beauty

Playful putti, nude nymphs and sinister satyrs adorn the intricate and imaginative ‘Suite de Vases’ by Ennemond-Alexandre Petitot (1727 – 1801). This display showcases eleven of his beautifully eccentric, neoclassical drawings for ornamental vases, engraved by Benigno Bossi (1727 – 1792). First published as a set of 31 plates in 1764, they combine Petitot’s architectural … Read more

Buried Treasures

Uncovering Hoards Buried treasure – and the excitement of discovering it – lies at the heart of this fascinating exhibition exploring coin hoards. The Barber Institute’s collection contains coins from no fewer than 48 hoards, of which eight will be uncovered here. These include two caches unearthed in Britain: the Dorchester Hoard (pictured right), dug … Read more