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🖼️ Young Friends | Journey through the history of art 🎨


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The Story of Art Without Men, Mary Delany and Michelangelo 
View this email online

Grab a pencil and paintbrush and explore art at the Museum 

Marbled paper of a tulip on combed ground.

Dear -,

Art has been part of human life since human civilisation, from ancient cave paintings to the amazing creations we see today!

Last month, we invited Young Friends to submit questions for author and art historian Katy Hessel. From her favourite artist to her best school trip, watch the video below to see if your question was featured, and enjoy discovering more about art, brilliant women artists, and museums.

In this email, you can also:
🌼Create your own botanical collage
🎨Read our Remus edition all about art

For older Young Friends (ages 14+), discover the hidden meanings behind beautiful Anglo-Saxon brooches and buckles, and learn more about the life of the artist Michelangelo. 

Don’t forget to check out our upcoming Sufi art adventure workshop at the Museum. Aimed at children 5 and under, get inspired  by Sufi art and culture and make your own patterned tile designs. We would love to see you there!

The Young Friends and Schools and Family Programmes Teams

YouTube thumbnail of the video 'Katy Hessel answers your questions'.

Katy Hessel answers your questions

Listen to author and art historian Katy Hessel answer your questions and hear about her new book The Story of Art Without Men: an illustrated guide to amazing women artists.

Watch now
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Buy the book
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Discover more from home

Paper collage of a marigold on black ink background.

Mary Delany 

Having learnt about Katy Hessel’s love for Mary Delany and her amazingly detailed floral collages, have a go at making your own Delany-inspired collage! 

Get crafting
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The front cover of the issue of Remus on art.

Remus

Discover more about history of art, famous artists and create your own masterpieces through reading this issue of Remus.

Read now
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What's on at the Museum? 

Panel of three earthenware tiles of a long ship with an eagle at the front.

Sufi art adventure

5 and under

Step into a world of rhythm, colour and expression in this creative workshop.

Join artist and educator Phillipa Ellis at this hands-on workshop celebrating the beauty of Sufi art and culture. You can experiment with vibrant colours, try your hand at simple calligraphy and create your very own patterned tile designs. This is a playful, sensory-rich introduction to art and creativity for curious minds and busy hands!

Free, booking required. 

Monday 22 June
10.30–11.15
11.30–12.15
13.15–14.00

Book now
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Watercolour painting of London from Hampstead Heath; Lithograph print of the British Museum from Great Russell Street; Watercolour painting of Hungerford Bridge from the Savoy Wharf.

Connection in the collection

Can you spot the connection between these three objects? Hint – have a think about where the British Museum is. 

Older Young Friends

14+

Gilt silver square-head Anglo-Saxon brooch

Decoding Anglo-Saxon art 

The designs of Anglo-Saxon brooches and buckles are not just pretty decoration, they have multi-layered meanings. Learn how to decode some key Anglo-Saxon objects in this blog post. 

Read now
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Portrait of exhibition curator, Sarah Vowles

Michelangelo – the genius who got better with age

Everyone thought Michelangelo was a genius... except Michelangelo. Discover how one the world’s greatest artistic geniuses coped with the challenges of getting old.

Watch now
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Connection in the collection answers 

All three images are of London!

🌧️The first painting is by the artist John Constable. It shows a view of London from Hampstead Heath. Look closely at the sky, Constable painted dark, stormy clouds with patches of lighter sky and even falling rain. It almost feels like the weather is changing right in front of you.

🏛️The second image is a print of the British Museum, seen from Great Russell Street. You can spot the Museum’s famous grand entrance with its tall columns. Next time you visit, see if you can recognise this view in real life!

🌇The final picture is a watercolour painting of London from Savoy Wharf. You might  spot some of London’s most famous landmarks in the distance. Can you find the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey?

Large cloisonné enamel jar.

Young artist backpack

Ages: 3–7

Explore the Museum galleries with a themed backpack filled with intriguing items and fun activities to practice your mark-making, then take your drawings home with you.

Learn more
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Connect with us

Connect with us on Facebook. Connect with us on X. Connect with us on Instagram. Connect with us on YouTube.

Images:

Hikmet Barutçugil (b. 1952), tulip on combed ground. Marbled print, 1990.

YouTube video of Katy Hessel. 

Mary Delany (1700–88), Marigold. Paper collage with bodycolour and watercolour, on black ink background, 1781.

Front cover of Remus issue 78. 

William De Morgan (1839–1917), Iznik-style panel of three tiles. Earthenware, 1888–97.

John Constable (1776–1837), London from Hampstead Heath. Watercolour painting, early 1830s.

Augustus Butler (c.19th century), view of the British Museum from Great Russell Street. Lithograph print, 1853.

John Wykeham Archer (1808–1864), Hungerford Bridge from the Savoy Wharf. Watercolour painting, 1861.


Silver-gilt square-headed brooch, England, around 500 BC. 

Captions, Sarah Vowles, exhibition curator and Smirnov Family Curator of Italian and French Prints and Drawings.


Large cloisonné enamel jar, China, 1426–35.

Contact us:
[email protected]

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