Art Articles
Art - Nov 2023
Masters of their craft: van Walscapelle, de Bray and Ruysch
From detailed compositions and bold palettes, to skilful use of colour and light, we continue our tour of the beautiful ‘Dutch Flowers’ exhibition with a look at the work of Jacob van Walscapelle, Dirck de Bray and Rachel Ruysch.
Art - Oct 2023
Capturing Nature's Beauty: Dutch Flower Paintings
The popularity of flower painting emerged in Northern Netherlands as a result of prosperous trade, scientific advancement, and middle-class patronage in Dutch cities in the 17th century. We take a look at three of the artists featured in the 'Dutch Flowers' exhibition: Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, Balthasar van der Ast and Jan Davidsz. de Heem.
Art - Oct 2023
Kedisha Coakley: Artist Biography
Learn about acclaimed contemporary artist Kedisha Coakley, known for her sculpture, photography and printmaking that reframes history, culture and race. Read a biography covering her art studies, exhibitions, commissions and career in Sheffield and beyond.
Art - Oct 2023
Meet..... Lady Jane Grey
The woman at the centre of the giant history painting that is undergoing a conservation assessment at The Box until 4 October had a fascinating but tragic life. Find out more about Lady Jane Grey – otherwise known as the ‘Nine Days’ Queen’.
Art - Sep 2023
Meet..... Solomon Hart
Solomon Hart was one of the most respected British artists of the 1800s, but how much do you know about this Plymouth-born artist who went on to become the first Jewish Royal Academician? Here's your chance to learn a little more about his life.
Art - Sep 2023
Pink Coffee Pot
This distinctive, brightly coloured coffee pot is part of a set that also includes a tea pot, sugar bowl, jug and cups. It is currently on display in the large case in our 'People and Place: Art Collection showcase' gallery.
Art - Sep 2023
'Imogen' by Elizabeth Adela Forbes
This 1898 oil on canvas by Elizabeth Adela Stanhope Forbes (nee Armstrong) ARWS RE (1859-1912) was purchased for the city’s permanent art collections in 1904.
Art - Sep 2023
Reynolds' studio materials
Artist Sir Joshua Reynolds’ set up his first studio in Plymouth Dock (now Devonport) in the 1740s, and then established and ran a studio in the Leicester Square area of London. Thanks to archival documents and other items that still exist, we have a good insight into how they ran and how he created some of the many portraits he’s still known for today. Some of these materials are on display in our ‘Reframing Reynolds: A Celebration’ exhibition (until 29 October). Here’s a guide to what you can see!
Art - Sep 2023
Rana Begum in The Box
There are 11 different works in the 'Rana Begum: Dappled Light' exhibition (until 24 September), three of which can be seen in The Box's main building. As we head into the final fortnight for this visually stunning show, make sure you check them out when you visit!
Press Release - Sep 2023
The Box awarded unique grant to acquire work by Turner Prize-nominated artist Ingrid Pollard MBE
The Box, Plymouth’s award-winning museum, art gallery and archive, is one of two organisations in the UK to be awarded funding through the latest round of the Freelands Art Fund Acquisition – a unique partnership between Art Fund and Freelands Foundation. Launched in 2021, the partnership helps museums acquire work by contemporary women artists that have won the Freelands Award.
Press Release - Sep 2023
The National Gallery's 'Dutch Flowers' and Yinka Shonibare CBE RA's 'End of Empire' to open at The Box in October
A new season of exhibitions and commissions launches at The Box in Plymouth this October with a nationally touring fine art exhibition and a thought-provoking sculpture. Both elements of the programme explore empire, trade and colonisation in different ways – with the aim of encouraging visitors to think about social and historical narratives from a different perspective.
Art - Sep 2023
Rana Begum in St Luke's
Artist Rana Begum works with a wide range of colours and materials, and the eight different pieces on display in St Luke’s demonstrate this brilliantly. Although you can’t touch them there’s plenty of space for you to move around them, to appreciate them from different viewpoints and angles and see how they interact with light.