News | Tuesday, 29th January 2013

Art Nouveau treasures go on display

Beardsley, Knox and King in exhibition

A COLLECTION of Art Nouveau treasures owned by the university is on display in Special Collections until 22 March.

The exhibition features glassware, ceramics, metalware, posters and books from across the collections, including artists and designers whose names are famously associated with the style such as Archibald Knox, Jessie M King and Aubrey Beardsley.

Also on display are some of the most influential journals of the time, including Jugend, The Studio, and The Yellow Book.

The Art Nouveau movement began in the 1880s, and grew until the start of the First World War. Artists such as Klimt, Renie Mackintosh and Beardsley revolted against the strict rules of art that had gone before them and instead took their inspiration from the world around them, taking the famous curved Art Nouveau “whiplash” lines from those seen in plants, flowers and deep-sea creatures.

In addition to the famous lithographs of actress Sarah Bernhardt in the role of Gismonda, noted examples of Art Nouveau include the entrances to the Paris Metro, the jewellery of Rene Lalique and parts of Gaudi’s famous Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family, in Barcelona.

The Special Collections Gallery is located on the third floor of the Sir Kenneth Green Library, at All Saints Campus.

The Gallery is open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm, Thursday 10am-7pm and Saturday 12noon-4pm.