Blackburn Museum set to unveil its most ambitious exhibition yet

Blackburn Museum is preparing to open the doors to its most ambitious exhibition ever this weekend – a landmark show filled with breathtaking artwork, exquisite, rare books, stunning manuscripts and beautiful ceramics.

The Nature of Gothic celebrates how artists across centuries, disciplines and faiths have all drawn inspiration from the natural world.

At its heart are treasures from Blackburn’s internationally significant Hart Collection – bequeathed by local rope maker, industrialist and collector Edward Hart.

One of the UK’s most important collections of rare books and manuscripts, it has been carefully preserved by the Museum for generations.

For this exhibition, the extraordinary pieces will sit alongside works of equal importance on loan from world-renowned institutions including the British Library, Manchester Art Gallery, Cambridge University Library and more.

Highlights include:

• Illuminated manuscripts ranging from the Bedford Psalter and Hours to Islamic devotional texts
• Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces, including Rossetti’s Astarte Syriaca and Burne-Jones’ Sleeping Beauty
• Rare bindings and early printed books, including a copy of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam with calligraphy by William Morris
• Decorative ceramics and textiles from the De Morgan Foundation, Tullie House, Gawthorpe Textiles Collection and others

Co-curated by Dr Cynthia Johnston (School of Advanced Study at the University of London) and Anthea Purkis (Curator of Art at Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery), the exhibition repositions Blackburn’s collections within a national story of creativity, collecting and cross-cultural exchange.

Dr Johnston said:

Thanks to industrialists like Edward Hart, who saw the importance of collecting items from across the globe and leaving them for the benefit of the town, we can now explore the shared cultural theme of gothic decorative art through books, paintings, textiles and ceramics.

Blackburn’s collection is astonishing in scope and quality. With this show, we place it firmly within the national narrative of collecting, creativity and exchange.

The exhibition also features two brand-new artist commissions, which will become permanent additions to the Museum’s collection:

• Jamie Holman, working with artists in Islamabad, has created a piece inspired by the Tregaskis bindings on loan from the University of Manchester’s John Rylands Library
• Nehal Aamir, who has previously featured in the National Festival of Making’s Art in Manufacturing programme, is producing a new series of ceramic standing frames exploring the passage of time through natural light.

Co-curator, Anthea Purkis, added:

The Nature of Gothic is a powerful example of what happens when a local museum thinks nationally and curates with real ambition.

It’s about weaving Blackburn with Darwen’s story into a much larger cultural fabric.

The exhibition, which runs until 13 December, also coincides with major cultural events in the borough, including the British Textile Biennial throughout October and Gaia at Blackburn Cathedral (6 October – 16 November).

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Chair of the Museum Board, said:

This is a fantastic demonstration of our cultural ambitions for the borough – years of research and hard work showcased in this landmark exhibition.

The Museum is a fascinating place at the best of times, but this show offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see rare works of art and literature right here in Blackburn.

And, just as it was more than 150 years ago when its doors first opened, the Museum remains free to enjoy. This exhibition is not to be missed.

Funded by the Brian Mercer Trust and delivered as part of the Museum’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status with Arts Council England, the exhibition plays a key role in Blackburn’s ongoing story of cultural renewal.

The Nature of Gothic will open to the public on Saturday, September 13 and will run until Saturday, December 13.

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 4:45pma and is always free to visit.

Find out more by using this link to the museum’s website: www.blackburnmuseum.org.uk