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August
Opens on Wednesday 4th August
2010 ~ Continues until Thursday 26th
August 2010
Emma Marigliano will be giving a talk focussing on elements of the exhibition
on Wednesday 18th August
The Victorians & the
Reinvention of The Italian Renaissance
 It
is certainly a matter of continuing debate whether the Renaissance started
in Italy or Northern Europe. For the Victorians, however, there was
no doubt. The Renaissance was Italian - from Giotto to Michelangelo,
from Dante to Petrarch and from Florence to Rome, most definitely Italian.
Ironically the term Renaissance was invented by Jules Michelet when
writing his Histoire de France (another irony!) in 1855. He located
the 'rebirth' of art and culture in Italy and gave it a French name.
Italians, of course, call it nothing other than Il Rinascimento.
Jacob Burkhardt, a German art historian, expanded on Michelet's statement
and, keeping with the term described it as nothing less than the birth
of modern humanity and consciousness after a long period of decay.
And the Victorians made it their own invention. If Raphael had never
been discovered by them Pre-Raphaelites might never have existed. Botticelli
was virtually unknown before the Victorians stepped onto Italian soil
in the nineteenth century. Without the discovery (and subsequent bulk
buying) of Italian paintings and sculptures Britain's galleries and
museums might have been so much the poorer.
This exhibition looks at the enormous impact that the art and culture
of 14th to 16th century Italy had on the Victorians.
Through William Roscoe to John Addington Symonds and Walter Pater to
John Ruskin the message of the Renaissance was given loud and clear.
It was history, it was art and it was culture writ large. And the independently
minded and educated women of the time also joined in the mega PR exercise.
Vernon Lee, Emilia Dilke and Anna Jameson were well respected commentators
on the Renaissance phenomenon.
Books from the Portico Library Collection and from the collections of
libraries in the Association of Independent Libraries will be on display
along with images of those works of art that were most influential on
the minds and manners of the Victorians.
Exhibition admission free
Talk £5.00 or £16.50 with
buffet
September
Previews on Wednesday 1st
September 2010
Continues until Wednesday 29th September 2010
As I See It
an exhibition by Jan Cartain
 As
an artist Jan thrives on looking, drawing and responding to things around
her often developing the same image using different media and techniques.
This exhibition is a snapshot of her work.
Born in Coventry, Jan Cartain enjoyed a career teaching art in schools
before deciding in 2000 to concentrate on her own painting. Jan is one
of the founder members of Vernon Mill Artists in Stockport where she
has a large studio.
Her love of landscape, inspired by the places she has visited both at
home and abroad, form the basis of her exhibition at The Portico.
Jan's style is varied and reflects the experimental aspect of her work
which she finds stimulating. Jan's travels both at home and abroad have
provided the subject matter for her atmospheric and evocative work.
Working from a mixture of sketches and her photographs she goes on to
develop the images back in her studio.
Using a variety of media and techniques Jan has captured the essential
character and mood of her chosen subjects. Her work in pen and wash
evokes the atmospheric effects of light on water whereas her work in
pastel captures the textures, tones and colours of the rural landscape.
Jan sees her recent work in pastel as building on her popular studies
in pen and wash, acrylic and oil.
Jan has exhibited her work throughout the North West of England, including
Stockport Art Gallery, Staithes Art Gallery, The Blyth Gallery and Castlefield
Gallery, amongst others.
Exhibition admission free
Thursday 23rd September
2010 from 12noon - 7pm
Fundraising Book Fair
 As
part of our catalogue fundraising campaign we are holding a book fair
of quality fiction and non-fiction books, including antiquarian.
The fair is open to everyone,
and admission is free, so why not pop in and grab yourself a bargain
whilst helping to support the Library?
The fair will be open from lunchtime straight through until 7pm, making
it easy for you to visit during a break from work or on your way home!
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