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.
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:
- 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
- Yvon Marshall Ney
* This painting is on loan to the National Gallery of Art, Washington until May 2013.
If you are coming to see a particular work please contact the gallery in advance to ensure it is on display.