Summer Exhibition
Bristol's Hidden Treasure: Hogarth's Redcliffe Altarpiece
Dates: Monday 24 April - Sunday 17 September
Times: Monday - Saturday 8:00am - 5:00pm / Sunday 12:00noon - 5:00pm
Entry: Free
Location: St John's Chapel
In 1755, St Mary Redcliffe commissioned the most famous English artist of the time, William Hogarth, to paint a great altarpiece for the church.
By the C18th, William Hogarth was famous as a painter, engraver and satirist, and as the author of a blockbusting succession of print series,
which firmly established him as the pre-eminent and best-known artist in England.
By 1755, St Mary Redcliffe had reached the final stages of a process of internal beautification that had begun in the early years of the century,
and would see it transformed from a medieval relic into a classically decorated, baroque church. The commission of a new altarpiece marked
the culmination of this process.
This exhibition tells the story of the altarpiece, looking at the historical context behind the commission, as well as its significance in the context of
Hogarth’s career. It also looks at contemporary reactions to the paintings, the reasons for their removal, and their long, uncertain afterlife.
As part of the exhibition, we also provide information about our plans to rehouse the altarpiece in a purpose-built new gallery space as part of a complex of new visitor facilities to the north of the church. We're inviting feedback on these plans via physical comment cards located in the exhibition and online via our digital form.
Information about Project 450 can be found here.
If you would like to provide your comments online, you can do so here.
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