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Reynolds 300: What can his portraits tell us about the era?
Reynolds 300 - Jun 2023

Reynolds 300: What can Reynolds' portraits tell us about the era?

Sir Joshua Reynolds' career spanned a time of national and global change and the portraits on display in 'Reframing Reynolds: A Celebration' can tell you a lot about society in this era. We've also created a timeline showing his career progressing alongside other major events that he and his clients had connections to.

Archives insight: Refugee Week 2023 - Meet the Huguenots | The Box Plymouth
History - Jun 2023

Archives insight: Refugee Week 2023 - Meet the Huguenots

For this year's 'Refugee Week' we're looking at the story of the Huguenots - French Protestants who took refuge in some of our towns and cities, including Plymouth, in the late 1600s. They brought a range of valuable skills with them and introduced the word ‘refugee’ into the English language.

Archive insight: A dream of a new life overseas | The Box Plymouth
History - Jun 2023

Archives insight: A dream of a new life overseas

Have you been watching the BBC's latest historical drama 'Ten Pound Poms'? This image from our archives shows a family about to embark on the scheme that saw over a million people try and make their homes in Australia.

The Box joins national 20/20 project aimed at investing in diverse artists | The Box Plymouth
Press Release - Jun 2023

The Box joins national 20/20 project aimed at investing in diverse artists

The Box has joined a national commissioning and network programme that is directly investing in the careers of a new generation of ethnically minoritised and diverse artists.

A summer season of light and colour | The Box Plymouth
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.

Musical Passage: supporting jazz education and performance in the South-West | The Box Plymouth
Event - May 2023

Musical Passage: supporting jazz education and performance in the South-West

The Box is delighted to host jazz educators Tomorrow’s Warriors and Radical Ecology for two days of jazz workshops and performances in June. Musical Passage is a collaboration between partners in Devon and Cornwall that aims to support the long-term development of infrastructure for anti-racist jazz education across the area.

'Dig for Victory' dress | The Box Plymouth
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.

‘Card Table’ by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham | The Box Plymouth
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.

International Museum Day 2023: Museums, Sustainability and Wellbeing | The Box Plymouth
Community - May 2023

International Museum Day 2023: Museums, Sustainability and Wellbeing

Museums are drivers for change, and this year International Museums Day is focusing on Global Health and Wellbeing, Climate Action and Life on Land. Find out what we are doing to make change in these areas.

Reynolds 300: Portrait of Samuel Reynolds | The Box Plymouth
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.

Reynolds 300: Portrait of Lady Ann Bonfoy | The Box Plymouth
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).

Reynolds 300: Portrait of Elizabeth Limeburner | The Box Plymouth
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.