Victorian
The wealth and opulence of the High Victorian era is illustrated through dramatic episodes from history, literature and mythology.
Victorian Dramas
The Victorian period was Manchester’s heyday, a time of great affluence. People had more time to read and to travel - stories from history and literature became popular subjects in art and design. The display Victorian Dramas highlights some of our most dramatic paintings, from a fanciful recreation of Ancient Rome to a fiery Viking funeral.
Life and Landscape
From May 2011 for one year the Pre-Raphaelite Experiment has replaced the display Life and Landscape. Find out more about the Pre-Raphaelite experiment here.
In Pursuit of Beauty
Towards the end of the 19th century there was a move away from narrative painting. Artists grew increasingly inspired by Ancient Greek and Roman style and the exoticism of the Far East. Paintings, sculpture and design emphasised colour, design and harmony as qualities to be appreciated for their own sake.
Key works usually on display in these galleries include:
- Peter Graham A Spate in the Highlands *
- Elizabeth Thompson,
Lady Butler Balaclava * - William Powell Frith The Derby Day *
* These works have been taken off display for the duration of the Pre-Raphaelite Experiment
- Frank Dicksee The Funeral of a Viking
- Alexander von Wagner The Chariot Race
- Charles-August Mengin Sappho
- Frederic, Lord Leighton Captive Andromache
- Dante Gabriel Rosetti Astarte Syriaca
- Minton Hollins The Prometheus Vase
If you are coming to see a particular work please contact the gallery in advance to ensure it is on display.
