Beyond the Brotherhood

Beyond the Brotherhood
Legacies of the Pre-Raphaelites
at the Williamson Museum and Art Gallery
until 7 November 2026
Monday 13 July at 6pm 

My intention had  always been to give a brief introduction to this exhibition as a form of 'coda' to my talk about the superb May Morris exhibition at the Lady Lever, but had also realised that there was a strong connection between the latter and the replica of the Bayeux Tapestry which is in Reading... but working on the presentation I realised I was really selling the exhibition at the Williamson short: it deserves more time, and here it is!

They are both 'local' exhibitions - one is 20 minutes walk away, the other 20 minutes drive - and working on them I realised just how good they both are. It often happens when I get down to putting a PowerPoint together that all sorts of things come to light which weren't obvious on a first viewing - and, in this case, a second as well, as I've been to both exhibitions at least twice (and yes, I really have forgotten if I've been more).

The Williamson has a remarkable collection. Like most museums, the collection is far larger than the wall space allows, so they curate temporary exhibitions drawing from the collection. This one opened in January, and will be there until 7 November. It looks at the legacy of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood - as the title and subtitle imply. This includes several representatives of the 'School of Liverpool' - local artists who were influence by the Pre-Raphaelite style - but it also showcases some better known names, and some of my favourites:  Burne-Jones, Rossetti, Albert Moore and Evelyn de Morgan, to name but four.  

There are quite a few artists I have not come across before, but will be looking out for in the future - like Helen Allingham and William Davis - and one artist I had come across, but had forgotten, as I only associate him with one particular painting: Edward Robert Hughes, who had the subtlest, most sensuous style of drawing. There is also a taste of Birkenhead's very own ceramics industry, the Arts and Crafts inspired Della Robbia Pottery.

I will have given a brief introduction to this excellent display together with May Morris on 29 June, but really want to do justice to some great works of art by looking at them properly. IAs a result, if you have booked for May Morris, I will be offering a special discount for this talk to encourage you to join me!

Please remember, I do not record my talks.