The Art Newspaper

Making History: Antiquaries in Britain

Until 27 May 12

new haven. The full-blown Gothic revival of the 19th century had deep roots in the early 18th, one of which, the taproot perhaps, was the Society of Antiquaries.

Founded in 1707 by three friends, John Talman, John Bagford and Humfrey Wanley, meeting in the Bear Tavern on the Strand, London, the aim was to collect, study and publish articles about objects relating to British history.

Records of the meetings began to be kept in 1717, and in 1751 the society was given a royal charter. In 1781 it was housed in Somerset House, along with the Royal Academy of Arts and the Royal Society, until 1867 when all three moved to Burlington House, where they remain to this day.

From the first, antiquities, drawings, manuscripts, rare books and paintings were collected and the society published large engravings illustrating buildings, ruins and objects from Britain’s past.

This exhibition, an adaptation of the Royal Academy’s 2007 tercentennial show on the same subject, is divided into eight themes: “The Mists of Time” and “The Earliest Antiquaries” illustrate Britain’s pagan past and individuals who, before the 18th century, had taken an interest in British antiquities; “Founders and Fellows” shows papers and objects related to the founding members; “Collecting for Britain” is a display of bequests to the society; “Lost and Found” is dedicated to archaeological and other historical items found and studied by members of the society; “The Age of Recording” features architectural drawings; “Publishing the Past” focuses on the society’s books; and “The Rediscovery of the Middle Ages” explores William Morris’s and the Arts and Crafts Movement’s interest in Gothic art and architecture. Categories: Medieval

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• New York (155 current events)
• London (137 current events)
• Paris (46 current events)
• Berlin (45 current events)
• Washington (26 current events)

African

Archa​eology

Biennials

Conte​mporary (1970-present)

Curious

Decor​ative

Far East

Latin American

Mediaeval

Middle East

Modern (1900-1945)

1800-1900

Old Master

Photo​graphy

Post-War (1945-70)

Thematic

Video & new media

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