Bewdley Museum hosts work of Pre-Raphaelite artist

An exhibition of Pre-Raphaelite works will be on display at Bewdley Museum from this Saturday (9 September). ‘James Smetham, Pre-Raphaelite Outsider’ is on loan from Oxford Brookes University and runs at the museum until Sunday 29 October.

Smetham, was an English Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood painter and engraver and devout Methodist. He taught art at Wesleyan Normal College in Westminster and was good friends with Dante Gabriel Rossetti, founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and John Ruskin renowned Victorian critic, artist, writer and thinker.

The exhibition joins a busy, varied, programme of events at the museum in September.

The Murder Mystery evening on Saturday 9 September at the museum is already a sell-out!  But hot on the heels of this there is a weekend of Medieval and Tudor life being re-enacted, starting on Saturday 16 September. The following Saturday (23 September) the Black Country Steamers will be showcasing some of their miniature steam engines in the orchard in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Gardens.  The month winds up in great musical style with Bewdley Concert Band performing in the Green Theatre on Saturday 23 September.  Bewdley museum is owned and managed by Wyre Forest District Council.

Councillor Tracey Onslow Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Arts and Community Safety said:

“This is a real success story. Talks started last year to secure this opportunity for Wyre Forest, so we are thrilled to be working with Oxford Brookes University to host ‘James Smetham, Pre-Raphaelite Outsider’ at Bewdley Museum. Our museum continues to educate, entertain and delight and this month will be no exception!”

All available events are free to enter and details can be found on the museum’s website bewdleymuseum.co.uk/whats-on