What's New
Find out what's been happening at Hull Museums and the Ferens Art Gallery. Maybe a new object acquired for the collection, or something different from our stores that hasn't been displayed before. For current exhibitions and events please follow the events link above and choose a museum site
The Captured Slave - Conservation of Original Frame
'The Captive Slave' is one of the most interesting paintings held by Wilberforce House Museum, and it is currently being conserved by Mike Howden who is a specialist conservator based in South Yorkshire. Through the generous donations of the public we have been able to conserve the frame of this historically important image of an enslaved African. The artist is unknown but was previously attributed to Thomas Barker of Bath (1769-1847), and later to John Philip Simpson (1782-1847). Recent research has uncovered that this is in fact a copy of the Simpson painting which was purchased by the Art Institute of Chicago, USA in 2008. It was painted around 1827, whilst the campaign for the total abolition of slavery was still gathering support, so this image would have been a controversial subject-matter for the artist to depict. The identity of the sitter is not known but recent studies have suggested that it is of Ira Aldridge (1807-1867) who was a great nineteenth century Shakespearian actor. He was born in New York City on 24th July 1807, the year the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was passed. He was also an outspoken abolitionist, which makes Wilberforce House a perfect home for the painting. The painting was conserved in 2005 as part of the 2007 Wilberforce House Museum redevelopment. However in recent years the gilded ornate frame has become weak and fragile. Frames are often overlooked by the public but can be historically important, especially if it is an original frame. It is believed that the frame for The Captive Slave is original to the painting, so this frame would have been the one that the artist had chosen to present their work to the public. Mike Howden has specialised in conserving frames for many years and he is pictured here working on the frame belonging to the Captive Slave. Hull Museums would like to thank the generosity of the public for donations, as their support has enabled this beautiful and decorative original frame to be conserved. #IMAGE#
Conservation in preparation for First World War Centenary
In preparation for the First World War centenary commemorations, various items of costume and textiles from our collections are undergoing conservation treatment ready for display at the Ferens Art Gallery for the 'When War Hit Home: Hull and the First World War' exhibition, which will open in July 2014, and the redevelopment of the Georgian Houses section of Wilberforce House Museum, due to open at the end of the year. Funded by Arts Council England, this will help to illustrate the experiences of Hull people during the war. The pieces undergoing treatment include an officer's uniform and a gas mask which echo life on the front, and a nurse's uniform which exemplifies the growing role undertaken by women at work. A home-made table cloth showing naval ships and the words 'Welcome Home' is being cleaned and professionally mounted to reflect the poignant stories of those men who returned home at the end of the war. Some very fragile dresses are also being treated and will be displayed to illustrate alterations in women's fashion over the period and how this reflected changes in society. #IMAGE# A number of First World War era firearms are also being conserved by the Royal Armouries in preparation for display within an East Yorkshire Regimental gallery at Wilberforce House Museum, due to open late in 2014 and also funded as part of the same Arts Council England project. #IMAGE#
Watercolour of River Hull Goes on Display
A watercolour painting titled 'River Hull' painted sometime between 1997 and 1998 by local artist John Sharp, has been displayed in Gallery 10 with other local and maritime scenes for the first time since its acquisition by the Ferens Art Gallery. It was the winner of the 'Hull 700' competition as part of the Ferens Winter Exhibition in 1998. The prize was the Gallery's purchase of the work for the Ferens permanent collection. The view shows the River Hull looking south towards Scott Street Bridge.
Inuit Parka Undergoes Conservation
Conservation work has recently been carried out on a sealskin parka which can usually be seen on display at Hull Maritime Museum. The parka and canoe had been on show under strong fluorescent lights for many years, which had resulted in the skin becoming dry and brittle. Now new LED lighting has been installed to lower the temperature inside the case and the parka has undergone treatment to repair the holes and soften the skin so it could be returned to display. This was made possible by funding from Museums Development Yorkshire and public donations. The parka is believed to be associated with two Inuit people called Uckaluk and Memiadluk who came to Hull in 1847 with Captain Parker, a famous whale ship captain, to raise funds for their community. During their stay they were thrilled to see a model of an Inuit sitting in a kayak on public display, and this same model is thought to be the one that they saw. The owner of this parka tragically drowned in Hull's Garrison Moat whilst giving a display of kayaking. Little else is known about this Inuit man or his visit to Hull. His possessions were later given to the Hull Literary and Philosophical Society by the Arctic explorer Sir John Ross. Several Inuit people visited Hull during the 19th century, arriving onboard Hull's whalers and always causing great interest, the first recorded visit being in 1815.
James Johnson's Romantic Landscape Returns
A visitor favourite, James Johnson's 'Romantic Landscape' has returned to the displays in Gallery 5 at the Ferens Art Gallery following the fitting of a more sympathetic 19th century-style reproduction frame by a specialist conservator. The painting was last shown in Gallery 8 in 2011 when an exhibition of the Ferens landscapes from the permanent collection was mounted to complement the Tate's loan of 'Bigger Trees near Warter' 2007, by David Hockney.
The Captive Slave portrait returns from conservation
The painting, 'The Captive Slave' is one of the most well-known artworks held by Wilberforce House Museum, and it has returned to the Museum after being restored by Mike Howden who is a specialist conservator based in South Yorkshire. Mike Howden spent many hours conserving the gilded ornate frame which is believed to be original to the oil painting, which was previously conserved in 2005 in preparation for the Centenary Commemorations of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act 2007. The artist is now considered to be unknown despite the previous attributions to Thomas Barker of Bath (1769-1847) and more recently to John Philip Simpson (1782-1847). Even the identity of the sitter is as yet unknown but it has been suggested it could be Ira Aldridge (1807-1867), a great nineteenth century Shakespearian actor. The painting itself is unusual in that it depicted an enslaved African. The British public used the products of slavery in their daily lives, but rarely were faced with the realities of the slave trade presented in this artwork. The new location of the painting within Wilberforce House Museum allows the visitor to fully appreciate the evocative image and original frame as they first enter the house. The frame was becoming increasingly fragile due to its proximity to the entrance creating micro-vibrations that over time would have caused further damage to the frame. Conservation of the painting was made possible with public donations, and with your continuing support important museum objects can be conserved for future generations.
R38 Airship Disaster - New Addition to the Collections
An aluminium cross has been acquired for the collection at Hull Maritime Museum, made from the wreckage of the R38 airship which was lost over Hull in 1921. Whilst undergoing trials, the 695 foot long giant broke up over the Humber off Victoria Pier on August 24 1921, witnessed by thousands of people. Forty-four American crew members lost their lives that day and a memorial was erected in Western Cemetary to those who died. #IMAGE# The aluminium charm is in the shape of a memorial cross, pierced at the top with an attached metal ring. The inscription reads 'In Memory of R 38'. It joins other items in the collection, including postcards, pieces of fabric which were recovered from the river during the salvage operation, and a souvenir candlestick made from the metal bodywork of the airship. #IMAGE#
Lorenzetti - Early Renaissance Masterpiece
In 2013 the Ferens Art Gallery acquired a significant art work which will now remain in the country for the benefit of the UK public. The rare and beautiful early Renaissance painting, 'Christ between Saints Paul and Peter' (dated c.1320) by Sienese artist Pietro Lorenzetti was placed under a temporary export bar by the Culture Secretary due to its high quality. Painted in tempera with a gold background, the panel once formed part of a larger altarpiece. A quintessential work by the artist and his only fully autograph work in the UK, it is considered to be of outstanding aesthetic and scholarly importance and the most ambitious purchase the Gallery has made since the Frans Hals Portrait of a Young Woman, bought in 1963. The purchase was made using the Gallery's Ferens Endowment Fund with the Heritage Lottery Fund, Art Fund and Wolfson Foundation awarding generous grants to Hull City Council. The 700 year old art work has now joined the Ferens permanent collection after receiving conservation treatment courtesy of the National Gallery in London as part of its commitment to the support of regional galleries. The conservation took about a year and included structural stabilisation, cleaning and restoration, and it is now displayed permanently at the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull. The Lorenzetti has been bought in memory of the Ferens highly esteemed and popular former Director, John Bradshaw (d.2001), using his bequest. In addition the majority of local funds came from the Ferens Endowment Fund, a trust ring-fenced for the purchase of art works established by Thomas Robinson Ferens the Gallery's founder, in 1928. Bradshaw, who died in 2001, expressed a non-binding wish for a pre-1800 work in his will and it is felt that the Lorenzetti provides a fitting tribute to him both as Director of the Ferens Art Gallery (1965-1974) and Curator of Hull City Museums and Art Galleries (1974 -1992). On arrival in Hull, the Heritage Lottery Fund grant has enabled an extensive public engagement programme around the Lorenzetti which is expected to last a total of 20 months.
