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A Brush with Fashion:
500 Years of Male Portraiture
13th April - 20th May 2022
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The curated selection of works examines the shifting representations of masculinity through British portraiture over a duration of nearly 500 years.
Throughout British history, costume has been used to communicate notions of masculinity as well as certain social, economic, moral and even romantic statuses in society.
The shifting status of artists also saw the representation of costume and clothing develop as a vehicle for painterly expressiveness. The workmanship required to recreate the elaborate and intricate clothing offered artists a chance to demonstrate their artistic capabilities and show off their ties with elite cliental.
From ruffs and wigs to suits and bowties, this display traces the changing preferences of fashion-conscious male sitters and the artists they sat for.
