Assay Office Birmingham are pleased to be contributing to the current exhibition at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists  gallery in Brook Street, just off St Paul’s Square in the Jewellery Quarter.  The Society is celebrating 200 years this year and its current exhibition, “A Place for Art”  chronicles not only its own history but also reflects the changing society in which it has developed.

Assay Office Birmingham have loaned a collection of medallions and the dies that were used to create them. These mark  significant events such as the death of  Matthew Boulton in 1809, commemorated in a large copper gilt cast, and three items which celebrate peace in Europe in 1814. The medals are remarkable in so far as they were included in the first exhibition that the RBSA held back in 1814 and are now back to celebrate the bicentenary.

The exhibition explores the history and development of the RBSA from the foundation of the Birmingham Academy of Arts in 1814. It highlights the achievement of eight generations of artists in the city with major works by Members and Associates including David Cox, Joseph Southall, Walter Langley and Arthur Gaskin. It also explores the contribution made by women artists in exquisite works by Mary Gibson, Kate Eadie, the Society’s first female Member, Teresa Clarke, and many others. Through some of the finest examples of painting, drawing, sculpture and printmaking from public and private collections the show traces the changing and often conflicting ideals that united and divided the artists of Birmingham.

 

The exhibition is well worth a visit and is accompanied by a series of events. Admission to the gallery is free – full opening times and further details of the events can be found at,

www.rbsa.org.uk/whats-on/events/

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