Going public—portraits from the Colin Holden Collection
Going public—portraits from the Colin Holden Collection brought together prints from the 17th and 18th centuries that were designed to leave a lasting impression on their audiences.
Portrait prints were a highly regarded artistic medium during this era, with portrait painters favouring a select group of accomplished and virtuosic engravers to reproduce their works in printed form. These prints held a distinct function: to communicate the status and achievements of their sitter to the public through purposeful use of expression, ornament and symbolism. Featuring works by renowned European printmakers, this exhibition invites close encounters with luminaries from the period’s cultural, royal and societal milieus.
The Richardson Gallery is dedicated to the display of prints in memory of Dr Colin Holden.