Exhibition Articles
Art - Jul 2023
'Cookworthy, Body Sherds and Plymouth Rock' by Paul Scott
Have you spotted this brilliant example of contemporary craft which is on show in the giant display case in our 'People and Place: Art Collection Showcase' exhibition? It’s part of a 2014 commission by internationally renowned ceramic artist, Paul Scott which was supported by the Contemporary Art Fund.
Art - Jul 2023
'Dartmoor China Clay' by Jean Jones
This vibrant painting of a Devon scene is a recent addition to the permanent art collection at The Box and can be seen on display throughout 2023 in our 'People and Place: Art Collection Showcase' exhibition.
Press Release - Jun 2023
A summer season of light and colour
As part of a season exploring the themes of light and colour, The Box will be marking the 300th anniversary of Sir Joshua Reynolds' birth and collaborating with artist Rana Begum RA this summer.
Press Release - May 2023
'Dig for Victory' dress
The dress was gifted to our collections in 1996 and dates from 1939-1945. It’s an example of mid-20th century fashion as well as a piece of propaganda, and you can see it in a huge case featuring hundreds of objects from our decorative art collection in our ‘People and Place’ exhibition.
Art - May 2023
‘Card Table’ by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912-2004) was one of the most significant British female artists of the twentieth century. She was born in St Andrews, Scotland but after relocating to St Ives she became one of the central figures there. This work is an oil on hardboard dating from the late 1960s and was gifted to our collections in 1976 by the Contemporary Art Society.
Art - May 2023
Reynolds 300: Portrait of Samuel Reynolds
The Reverend Samuel Reynolds (1681-1745), was the School Master of Plympton St Maurice Grammar School. Most importantly, he's a father who played a pivotal role in his child’s life and future career.
Art - May 2023
Reynolds 300: Portrait of Elizabeth Limeburner
Like the enigmatic smile on this young woman’s face, there is more to this portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds than meets the eye.
Art - May 2023
Reynolds 300: Portrait of Lady Ann Bonfoy
This gorgeous portrait dating from the 1750s and depicting a woman in a green and pink dress is part of our ‘Port Eliot Collection’. The woman is Lady Ann Bonfoy (nee Eliot) - the eldest daughter of Richard Eliot (1694-1748) and his wife Harriot (sometimes written as Harriet) (1713-1769).
Art - May 2023
Reynolds 300: Italian Sketchbook
In 2014, Plymouth secured £326,300 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a range of other funding partners to acquire two important items connected to artist, Sir Joshua Reynolds. One was an early self-portrait from the mid-1740s. The other was a fantastic sketchbook compiled on his ‘Grand Tour’ to Italy from 1750 to 1752.
Art - May 2023
Reynolds 300: Portrait of Charles Rogers
The Box's historically important Cottonian Collection contains thousands of fine and rare prints, drawings, paintings, watercolours, books, sculpture and furniture, and represents the changing tastes and interests of five generations of men over a period of more than 250 years. The man in this portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) is the second of the five.
Art - May 2023
Reynolds 300: Early Self-Portrait
Sir Joshua Reynolds didn’t just paint portraits of the rich and famous, he also created portraits of himself! In 2014, The Box was delighted to acquire two important works by him – one of which was this early self-portrait from 1746.
Art - May 2023
Reynolds 300: Age of Innocence
Today our childhoods should be an age of innocence, a time when we get to be children and explore the world on our own terms and in our own way. But it wasn’t always so. Until the 1700s, it was entirely normal to think of children as little adults, to dress and educate them as such and to expect them to behave accordingly.