Launching Saturday 13 September, The Nature of Gothic marks a major milestone for Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery — bringing together works from its internationally significant Hart Collection with rare loans from some of the UK’s most prestigious cultural institutions.
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This groundbreaking exhibition explores how artists across time and belief systems have turned to the natural world for inspiration — from illuminated religious texts and Pre-Raphaelite paintings to handcrafted ceramics and intricate textiles.
At the heart of the show is the museum’s Hart Collection — an extraordinary trove of rare books and manuscripts, collected by local rope manufacturer and philanthropist Edward Hart. This is the first time many of these works will be seen alongside national treasures, thanks to loans from:
- The British Library
- Manchester Art Gallery
- Cambridge University Library
- The De Morgan Foundation
- Tullie House Museum
- Gawthorpe Textiles Collection, among others.
⭐ Exhibition Highlights
- Stunning illuminated manuscripts including the Bedford Psalter and Islamic devotional works
- Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces like Astarte Syriaca by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Sleeping Beauty by Edward Burne-Jones
- Rare bindings and early printed editions, including The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam featuring calligraphy by William Morris
- Decorative ceramics and textiles reflecting gothic design across continents
🎨 Contemporary Commissions
The exhibition also features two new works created especially for the show:
- Jamie Holman, collaborating with artists in Islamabad, has produced a new piece inspired by the Tregaskis bindings held at the John Rylands Library.
- Nehal Aamir, known for her work with the National Festival of Making, has created a series of ceramic standing frames that explore the movement of natural light through time.
🗣️ What They’re Saying
Dr Cynthia Johnston, co-curator and researcher at the University of London, said:
“Thanks to collectors like Edward Hart, who understood the value of global cultural exchange, we now have the chance to reframe gothic art through a diverse lens — across books, textiles, ceramics and more.”
Anthea Purkis, Curator of Art at Blackburn Museum, added:
“The Nature of Gothic shows what’s possible when a local museum thinks nationally and curates with ambition. It’s about placing Blackburn’s story within a much wider artistic and cultural conversation.”
🏛️ A Cultural Centrepiece for Autumn 2025
The exhibition coincides with several major events in the borough’s cultural calendar, including:
- British Textile Biennial (October)
- Gaia at Blackburn Cathedral (6 October – 16 November)
Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Chair of the Museum Board, said:
“This is a landmark moment not just for the Museum, but for the borough. It reflects years of work and shows the scale of our cultural ambitions. Visitors will be amazed at the quality and rarity of the works on display — and it’s all free.”
ℹ️ Visiting Information
- 📍 Exhibition Dates: 13 September – 13 December 2025
- 🕚 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am – 4:45pm
- 🎟️ Admission: Free
- 🔗 More info at blackburnmuseum.org.uk
