National Museums Liverpool Blog - Victorian art

A manifesto in paint - Millais' Isabella

Visitors to the Lady lever will no doubt have missed that perennial favourite, Holman Hunt's The Scapegoat. The Walker, despite its positive embarassment of Pre-Raphaelite treasures, is definitely the richer for the return of Millais' Isabella; a painted manifesto of the aims of the Brotherhood itself.

The return of these and other gems makes it a perfect time to visit our three galleries, and not least because we're running something of a mini Pre-Raph festival to celebrate. Whether you're relatively new to the genre, or know your Williamson from your Rossetti, there's a gallery talk or tour for you, covering everything from an introduction to the Brotherhood to the crafting of a replica frame for The Scapegoat. Along with the forthcoming Edward Burne-Jones exhibition, and our extensive collection, there's a lot to see.

There are more details on our website, along with a link to our online shop where you can buy a copy of our new introduction to  the collection - Pre-Raphaelite Treasures at National Museums Liverpool - or pick one up in our gallery shop if you're visiting.

A year after joining National Museums Liverpool as a Visitor Assistant at the brand new Museum of Liverpool I find myself transported back in time, I have swapped the very new for the very very old.

Two paintings from the Walker Art Gallery’s collections have gone on display at Liverpool Cathedral. ‘St John’s Market, Liverpool – Saturday Morning’ and ‘Bold Street from Waterloo Place’ by Charles Trevor Prescott give an insight into everyday life in Liverpool at the end of the 19th century. The lively scene of Bold Street is instantly recognisable and shows the transport and fashion of the time. The bustling stalls in St John’s depict a thriving market.

The paintings provide inspiration for the Cathedral’s annual photographic competition. The theme this year is Liverpool Life. So all you budding photographers should involved!

Make sure you get to the Cathedral before 16 September 2012 to see these wonderful paintings before they go back into the stores. And if they whet your appetite for more Victorian art, there’s plenty more to see down the road at the Walker Art Gallery.