The search for new beauty 1860s

The exhibition will be arranged in four main chronological sections, charting the development of the Aesthetic Movement in art and design through the decades from the 1860s to the 1890s. As well as paintings, prints and drawings, the show will include examples of all the 'artistic' decorative arts, together with drawings, designs and photographs, as well as portraits, fashionable dress and jewellery of the era. Literary life will be represented by some of the most beautiful books of the day, whilst a number of set-pieces will reveal the visual world of the Aesthetes, evoking the kind of rooms and ensembles of exquisite objects through which they expressed their sensibilities.

  • Edward Burne-Jones - ‘Ladies and Animals’ Sideboard

    ‘Ladies and Animals’ Sideboard Edward Burne-Jones London 1860 Pine, painted in oil paint, with gold and silver leaf Museum no. W.10-1953 Given by Mrs. J.W. Mackail (daughter of the artist)

    Edward Burne-Jones created this piece for his own home. The painted decoration transformed this simple sideboard into a work of art.

  • Edward Burne-Jones - 'Merchant’s Daughter’

    'Merchant’s Daughter’, stained glass panel Edward Burne-Jones Made by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. London About 1860 Stained and painted glass Museum no. C.323A-1927 Bequeathed by J.R. Holliday

    Edward Burne-Jones produced many designs for stained glass but they were mainly for large scale church windows, in contrast to this small panel for a domestic interior.

  • Julia Margaret Cameron - 'Call, I follow, I follow, let me die!'

    'Call, I follow, I follow, let me die!' Julia Margaret Cameron London 1867 Carbon print from copy negative Museum no. 15-1939 Given by Mrs Perrin

    This unconventional portrait shows Cameron's parlour maid, Mary Hillier, as the tragic heroine of Arthurian legend. Its title comes from Tennyson's poem Idylls of the King.

  • Frederick Sandys - 'Proud Maisie'

    'Proud Maisie' Frederick Sandys London 1868 Pencil and crayon on paper Museum no. P.7-1933 Given by Mr H.C. Coaks

    Sandys often returned to the subject of a woman biting a lock of curling hair.

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