Victorian Radicals

Exhibition
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts and Crafts Movement 10 February to 31 October 10am-5pm. (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays) Book tickets

About Victorian Radicals

Three generations of British artists, designers and makers revolutionised the visual arts in the second half of the nineteenth century. The Pre-Raphaelites, William Morris and his circle and the men and women of the Arts and Crafts movement transformed art and design.

Selected from the city of Birmingham's outstanding collection, Victorian Radicals presents vibrant paintings and exquisite drawings alongside jewellery, glass, textiles and metalwork to explore their radical vision for art and society.

Fresh from an award-winning tour of the US, Victorian Radicals is the first comprehensive showing of the city’s Pre-Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts collections in Birmingham for over five years. Discover the story of the Pre-Raphaelites themselves and their influence on artists and makers well into the twentieth century – especially in Birmingham itself. Paintings made by artists including Kate Bunce, Joseph Southall and Arthur Gaskin combined the poetry and intensity of the Pre-Raphaelites’ work with a distinctive identity all their own.

Open Wednesday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm. In the Gas Hall at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

Pre-book to guarantee entry. Alternatively you can buy tickets on arrival (subject to availability).

This exhibition is organised by Birmingham Museums Trust and the American Federation of Arts. Supported by the Friends of Birmingham Museums.

Ticket Information

£11 Adult
£6 Open Concession (see the Concessions policy)
Child (up to 15) Free

Members, Patrons and Friends of Birmingham Museums Trust can book Free tickets. Become a member.

Art Fund National Art Pass holders can purchase Open Concession tickets for £6 online or at the Gas Hall when the exhibition opens. The Art Pass must be presented with your ticket.

Members of ICOM, the Museum Association and the NMDC reciprocal entry scheme have free entry. Proof of membership must be shown on entry to the Gas Hall. These tickets cannot be bought online.

All other tickets can be bought online, you will not receive an e-ticket instead show your booking confirmation when entering the exhibition.

Book tickets

Image gallery

Featured works

  • Painting of a female figure with dark hair playing a lute. She wears a green dress with flowers and has red sleeves. In the background is a mirror and vase full of flowers.
  • A full length painting of a female in a room. She is wearing a green, yellow and purple robe in layers. She holds a dragon shaped lamp in front her with flames spouting out of it.
  • A painting of a female head, neck and hands. The reminder of the painting is unfinished brown-gold underpainting.
  • Painting of a man with holding hands with a lady in a forest setting. He stands under a tree and a dog stands at their feet.
  • Head and shoulders of a youthful man with head turned 3/4 to the left. He wears a crown of vine leaves and grapes. He holds a wooden staff with vine leaves on his shoulder. The background shows hills and a sky.
  • A painting of a man and women sitting on a boat, holding hands. The man holds and umbrella and the lady is holding a baby with is hidden by her shawl. Behind them are other people on the boat and the sea.
  • A lady with dark hair is seated. She is pouring a liquid from a beaker into a lit burner and her head is titled while she holds onto her read bead necklace. The background is gold with details of a ship and trees.
  • A person in green drapery is comforting another person who has large wings and is wrapped in cloth bondages.
  • Painting of a woman seated and half length. A bird drops a red poppy on her hands. There are figures in the background.
  • A panel painted in enamels. The panel uses strong colours showing an equestrian knight and three ladies on balcony with gilded details.
  • A chalk drawing of a lady in a white dress holding a feather and fan.
  • An open book featuring illustrated text reading The Words of Geoffrey Chaucer now newly imprinted'.
  • Stained glass in two panels. Featuring two medievals ship in front of city walls.
  • Drawing of a man seated with his feet resting on a chair. A lady is seated opposite him, drawing him with the board resting on chair.
  • Printed linen with a design feaeturing flowers leaves in pale black-blue, blue, pink and green.
  • An Victorian emerald green dress with a thin black trimming on collar and cuffs and neck.
  • A court dress in a pale colour with long puffy sleeves.
  • A neckpiece made of silver gilt, painted enamel, pearls and opals.
  • A blue fabric bed cover with moon, owl, birds and leaves.
  • A large gilt golden chest with design on the side featuring two ladies in a garden tending to a dragon in the middle.
  • Ornate gothic style reliquary with crucifix final on Byzantine style roof studded with precious stones and enamel.
  • Jug with tall neck, large spout and globular body covered with leaf and flower motifs set with a garnet.
  • A tea set with teapot, kettle, jug and sugar bowl and tray. Made from shiny copper with accents of brass.
  • A cirular dish with an osprey standing on a rock surrounded by water in which two fish are swimming, behind the bird is a setting sun with ruby and gold rays. The sea, bird and fish are brown and while colours.

Further content for Victorian Radicals