If you are planning to visit England as in London from 24 May till 14 September, make an effort to visit Norwich in Norfolk and visit Norwich castle which houses the museum and art gallery. Since the Brits expect their salaries to be paid by ex-colonists, you have to buy the ticket for RM 44. But this ticket includes entry to historic Norwich castle as well as 'The Wonder of Birds' exhibition so it is a good buy and there is a wonderful selection of gifts from their souvenir shop.
Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
The Wonder of Birds
24 May to 14 September 2014
Holbein's 'Lady with Squirrel and Starling' is the exhibition's logo
The Wonder of Birds
will explore the cultural impact of
birds upon mankind. Eliciting a wide range of emotions from awe to fear,
and from pleasure to cruelty, birds have intrigued humanity since the earliest
of times.
With loans from local and national collections, this innovative exhibition will span the centuries and include some 220 works by major artists and illustrators, historical and contemporary, natural history, archaeology, fashion and social history.
With loans from local and national collections, this innovative exhibition will span the centuries and include some 220 works by major artists and illustrators, historical and contemporary, natural history, archaeology, fashion and social history.
The exhibition comprises six sections, each
highlighting a different aspect of birds, their meanings and our relationships
with them. Every section will integrate art with taxidermy so the visitor
is surrounded by birds wherever they look.
The show begins by introducing the visitor to the breadth of this fascinating subject: what is a bird; what do they mean to us; how have we studied, portrayed, preserved, endangered and used them?
This section will feature Hans Holbein’s stunning Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling, back inNorfolk England in 1526-8,
it is thought that the sitter is Anne Lovell: the starling in the
background and the pet squirrel on a chain allude to her name as the Lovell
family’s coat of arms includes squirrels and they owned a house at East Harling
in Norfolk
This work will be complemented by another beautiful Renaissance work of art, an exquisite 15th century drawing by Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506), which portrays a bird from the artist’s imagination, illustrating how birds have been used decoratively and heraldically through the ages.
In complete contrast, an imposing Great Hornbill by the contemporary artist and author, Katrina van Grouw, shows a bird’s skeletal structure.
The show begins by introducing the visitor to the breadth of this fascinating subject: what is a bird; what do they mean to us; how have we studied, portrayed, preserved, endangered and used them?
This section will feature Hans Holbein’s stunning Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling, back in
This work will be complemented by another beautiful Renaissance work of art, an exquisite 15th century drawing by Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506), which portrays a bird from the artist’s imagination, illustrating how birds have been used decoratively and heraldically through the ages.
In complete contrast, an imposing Great Hornbill by the contemporary artist and author, Katrina van Grouw, shows a bird’s skeletal structure.
Section 2, Predators and Prey,
presents a variety of species including birds of prey and game birds.
It will examine the traditional symbolism of the eagle, from kingship to
fascism, exemplified by a darkly humorous Russian propaganda poster from WWII,
in which the fascist eagle is demoted to crow by the act of being strangled by
a Russian soldier.
The section will explore hawking as a high-status pastime amongst royalty and nobility, and the hunting of game birds for food and prestigious ‘trophies’.
A portrait of a Tudor Norwich mayor, Peter Reade, proudly displaying his hooded falcon, may be compared with a magnificent 12th century Iranian lustreware ceramic figure of a hawk demonstrating the worldwide appeal of birds of prey.
Birds as both predator and prey are depicted in Hawk Pouncing on Partridges, a rare oil painting by the pioneering artist of natural history, John James Audubon (1785-1851) and the dramatic photograph by Eric Hosking of a barn owl in flight.
During the show there will be a live link to the Hawk and Owl Trust’s camera which records the development of the Peregrine Falcon nest on the Norwich Cathedral spire, thereby bringing living birds directly into the exhibition, giving visitors an insight into their beauty, vulnerability and ability for adaptation and survival.
The section will explore hawking as a high-status pastime amongst royalty and nobility, and the hunting of game birds for food and prestigious ‘trophies’.
A portrait of a Tudor Norwich mayor, Peter Reade, proudly displaying his hooded falcon, may be compared with a magnificent 12th century Iranian lustreware ceramic figure of a hawk demonstrating the worldwide appeal of birds of prey.
Birds as both predator and prey are depicted in Hawk Pouncing on Partridges, a rare oil painting by the pioneering artist of natural history, John James Audubon (1785-1851) and the dramatic photograph by Eric Hosking of a barn owl in flight.
During the show there will be a live link to the Hawk and Owl Trust’s camera which records the development of the Peregrine Falcon nest on the Norwich Cathedral spire, thereby bringing living birds directly into the exhibition, giving visitors an insight into their beauty, vulnerability and ability for adaptation and survival.
Birds can be closely associated with our
ideas of place and as such may be strongly connected with local
identities. This is especially true in East Anglia
Section 3, Birds and Landscape, will include herons, bitterns, ducks, geese, and swans, and the works exhibited will include a recent painting by Maggi Hambling, Heron in the shallows of theThames , on view to the public for the first time.
Section 3, Birds and Landscape, will include herons, bitterns, ducks, geese, and swans, and the works exhibited will include a recent painting by Maggi Hambling, Heron in the shallows of the
Despite the ethereal beauty of the bird,
Hambling’s work also makes a sharp comment on contemporary issues as the heron,
a favourite of the artist and portrayed by her many times, is wading through
polluted water, searching in vain for fish.
It is contrasted with the oldest object in the exhibition, a carved stone duck fromBabylon
It is contrasted with the oldest object in the exhibition, a carved stone duck from
In addition to their strong associations
with the land, birds are also closely linked with the sea, travel, distance and
migration. Some birds travel phenomenal distances annually and Section 4,
Migrants and Ocean Travellers, will examine the seasonal behaviour which
may take migrating birds from Norfolk to the
Arctic, Africa or South America .
Culture and traditions surrounding seabirds also come under the spotlight, and Bruce Pearson’s haunting image of a dead albatross on the floor of a fish processing plant is particularly poignant. An albatross taxidermy specimen, displayed alongside, will bring home the majestic size of this now endangered species.
Culture and traditions surrounding seabirds also come under the spotlight, and Bruce Pearson’s haunting image of a dead albatross on the floor of a fish processing plant is particularly poignant. An albatross taxidermy specimen, displayed alongside, will bring home the majestic size of this now endangered species.
Section 5 is entitled Introducing the
Exotic. Exotic birds have always been coveted for their brilliant
plumage, combined with their sheer rarity value, both for their feathers and as
high-status pets.
This section will focus on the use of feathers of all kinds for clothing, fashion accessories and decoration – a trend which peaked in the western world in the 19th century. The resulting deaths of thousands of birds sparked off the awareness of extinction which led to the founding of the RSPB, even though the use of feathers in fashion continues today.
On show will be a late 1930s’ hat of pheasant feathers, dyed in brilliant artificial colours to make it even more eye-catching. This section will also highlight the domestication of once-exotic species such as chickens, turkeys and canaries, the latter now closely connected with Norwich City Football Club.
A grand and exuberant 17th century portrait of a cockerel and hens by Dutch artist Melchior de Hondecoeter (1636-1695), which would once have adorned an English stately home, highlights how these now commonplace birds were then regarded as symbols of status. This section will also feature a rare early taxidermy specimen of the Paradise Parrot, a species extinct for almost a century.
This section will focus on the use of feathers of all kinds for clothing, fashion accessories and decoration – a trend which peaked in the western world in the 19th century. The resulting deaths of thousands of birds sparked off the awareness of extinction which led to the founding of the RSPB, even though the use of feathers in fashion continues today.
On show will be a late 1930s’ hat of pheasant feathers, dyed in brilliant artificial colours to make it even more eye-catching. This section will also highlight the domestication of once-exotic species such as chickens, turkeys and canaries, the latter now closely connected with Norwich City Football Club.
A grand and exuberant 17th century portrait of a cockerel and hens by Dutch artist Melchior de Hondecoeter (1636-1695), which would once have adorned an English stately home, highlights how these now commonplace birds were then regarded as symbols of status. This section will also feature a rare early taxidermy specimen of the Paradise Parrot, a species extinct for almost a century.
The Realms of the
Spirit, the final section, will illustrate how
songbirds and their relatives have symbolised the immortal soul, been seen as
heralds of the seasons, messengers from heaven, or as magical beings moving
between worlds.
Major loans will include a gold Colombian shaman’s necklace portraying half-human, half-bird figures. This work, a star exhibit in the recentBritish
Museum
Birds also featured in the religious cultures of northernEurope , demonstrated by the early Saxon pendant depicting
the head of the god Woden, flanked on either side of his hat by stylised
representations of his two ravens which symbolised Thought and Memory.
The cultural importance of birds is emphasised in an entirely different way by Spring Cuckoo, a sculpture of found metal objects by contemporary artist Harriet Mead. She captures the essence of this bird, traditionally considered the herald of spring with a sense of drama and gaiety, even though the cuckoo is declining, its numbers inEngland
Major loans will include a gold Colombian shaman’s necklace portraying half-human, half-bird figures. This work, a star exhibit in the recent
Birds also featured in the religious cultures of northern
The cultural importance of birds is emphasised in an entirely different way by Spring Cuckoo, a sculpture of found metal objects by contemporary artist Harriet Mead. She captures the essence of this bird, traditionally considered the herald of spring with a sense of drama and gaiety, even though the cuckoo is declining, its numbers in
Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
is part of the countywide multi-award-winning Norfolk Museums Service (NMS),
comprising ten museums and a study centre. It is one of only sixteen
Major Partner Museums in the country receiving substantial revenue investment
from Arts Council England.
Hans Holbein the Younger (c. 1497-1543), A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling (Anne Lovell?), c. 1526-8
Oil on oak, 56 x 38.8 cm, loaned by the
National Gallery, © The National Gallery, London
Bought with contributions from the
National Heritage Memorial Fund and The Art Fund and Mr J. Paul Getty Jnr
(through the American Friends of the National Gallery, London
NORWICH CASTLE MUSEUM & ART GALLERY
The Wonder of Birds
24
May to 14 September 2014
1. Hans Holbein the Younger (c. 1497-1543), A
Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling (Anne Lovell?), c. 1526-8
Oil on oak, 56 x 38.8 cm, loaned by
the National Gallery, © The National Gallery, London
Bought with contributions from the
National Heritage Memorial Fund and The Art Fund and Mr J. Paul Getty Jnr (through the American Friends
of the National Gallery, London), 1992
2. Andrea
Mantegna (c. 1431-1506), Bird on a Branch,
c. 1470s-80s
Ink on paper, 60.3 x 45.1 cm
(framed), © The Trustees of the British Museum
3. Katrina
van Grouw (b. 1965), Skeleton of a Great
Hornbill
Print on paper, 70 x 50 cm, loaned
by the artist, © Katrina van Grouw
4. Viktor
Nikolaevich Deni (1893-1946), The Fascist
Crow has Discovered, That to us He is no Eagle!, U.S.S.R, 1944
Print on paper, 56 x 41 cm, ©
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
5. Artist Unknown, Sir Peter Reade, c. 1568
Oil on panel, 91.5 x 67.3 cm, ©
Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
6. Maker unknown, lustreware hawk, 12th
century
Lustred earthenware, 47 x 25 x 26.5
cm, courtesy of the Fitzwilliam Museum
7. John James Audubon (1785-1851), Hawk Pouncing on Partridges, c. 1827
Oil on canvas, 66 x 101.6 cm, loaned
by University of Liverpool Victoria Gallery & Museum
Photograph reproduced with the kind
permission of University of Liverpool Victoria Gallery & Museum
8. Eric Hosking (1909-1991), Heraldic Barn Owl, 1948
Photograph, 28 x 42 cm, © The Eric
Hosking Charitable Trust
9. Maggi Hambling (b. 1945), Heron in the shallows of the Thames,
2013
Oil on canvas, 121.9 x 91.4 cm, ©
the artist
10. Maker unknown, Babylonian stone carved
duck, c. 2000 BC
Stone, 7 x 10 x 15 cm, private
collection
11. Bruce Pearson (b. 1950)
A
Tristan Wanderer on the floor of a fish processing plant, Richards Bay, South
Africa, 2011
Watercolour and pencil, 42 x 30 cm,
loaned by the artist, © Bruce Pearson
12. Maker unknown, feathered cloche hat, c.
1930-40
17.8 x 20.5 x 25 cm, © Norwich
Castle Museum & Art Gallery
13. Melchior de Hondecoeter (c. 1636-1695), Fowl, 1668-70
Oil on canvas, 83 x 64 cm, ©
Nottingham City Museums and Galleries
14. Frederick Strange (1826-1854)
Adult male Paradise Parrot,
Psephotus pulcherrimus Morton Bay, Queensland, Australia (1851), extinct
since 1927
Taxidermy specimen, 20.5 x 9 x 20
cm, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery/Norfolk Museums Service
© Norfolk Museums Service
15. Maker unknown, Pectoral depicting a
human-bird figure, Colombia, c. 1000-1600
Gold and copper alloy (Tumbaga), 30
x 20.5 x 2 cm, © The Trustees of the British Museum
16. Maker unknown, gilt bronze pendant with
two birds interpreted as the two ravens of Woden
c. late 6th/early 7th
century, gilt bronze, 4.1 x 2.5 x 0.9 cm, © Norwich Castle Museum & Art
Gallery
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