Ongoing partnership will see more internationally important art coming to Coventry
A Coventry art gallery will continue to attract internationally significant work – thanks to a partnership that stems from the city’s industrial heritage.
The exhibition, ‘Radical Drawing: Works From Coventry And The Courtauld’ is the latest collaboration between the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum and The Courtauld Gallery, and will be on show from now until Sunday, January 19.
Inspired by collector, philanthropist and founder of The Courtauld Gallery, Samuel Courtauld, whose family established textile businesses across the UK in regions including Coventry, Wolverhampton and Braintree, the partnership means visitors will be able to enjoy works by renowned artists’ long into the future, having already seen paintings by the likes of Degas and Cézanne on display at the Herbert.
“This is the third iteration of our partnership,” said Francis Ranford, Cultural and Creative Director at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.
“Our latest exhibition is truly stunning and demonstrates the growth and depth of our partnership.
“Working with prestigious partners allows us to bring nationally and internationally significant work to the region to sit alongside Coventry’s own collections. These pieces are enhanced by a dialogue which demonstrates how artists’ work can complement each other over the course of time.”
Deborah Swallow, of The Courtauld Institute of Art, said: “This exhibition is not one of a limited series, we want this to be a friendship, a relationship and a partnership with Coventry that goes on forever.
“We are linked by the history of Courtaulds Limited and the work we are bringing to Coventry is everybody’s to explore and enjoy.
“I am thrilled by this exhibition and just how well the two collections speak to each other, as the strength of the drawings collection in Coventry should not be underestimated.
“Radical Drawing really gives people the chance to engage with the art, which is wonderful to see.”
The exhibition showcases a series of works from the last 400 years, many of which have never been on show before.
The artworks, taken from the collections of The Courtauld Gallery, the University of Warwick and the Herbert’s own collection, include works by George Romney, Camille Pissarro, Pablo Picasso, Art & Language, Barbara Walker and Miriam de Búrca.
Also on display are objects from the Herbert’s collections linked to the Courtaulds factory in Coventry, and a film produced for the exhibition featuring former employees of Courtaulds Ltd discussing their experience of working for this significant employer in the city.
