As part of a new exhibition at the Ferens Art Gallery, Queen Victoria’s Jewel-Cabinet will visit the city.
A generous loan from her majesty Queen Elizabeth II enabled the exhibition to take place in partnership with Royal Collection Trust.
Originally commissioned for 2020, this revived exhibition will be on display throughout autumn and winter. it will open on 21 October 2022.
Queen Victoria’s spectacular visit to Hull in 1854 will be the focus of the new exhibition. A long-lasting relationship between the throne and Hull will be illustrated by Victorian life and Victorian Hull.
From Hull History Centre archives, visitors can see King Edward I’s Royal Charter and Queen Victoria’s Letters Patent. The exhibition will feature artworks from the Ferens permanent collection, Victorian costumes, Queen Victoria’s throne, and local artefacts from Hull Museum and Guildhall.
A prominent British monarch, Queen Victoria became one of Hull’s most recognisable figures following her visit to the city. There are three local landmarks that bear her name: Queen Victoria’s Gardens, Victoria Dock, and Queen Victoria’s Square. Additionally, there is a statue of her in the center of the square.
A new generation will be able to appreciate Queen Victoria’s influence on the city through Ferens’ latest exhibition.
In the series Masterpieces in Focus from the Royal Collection, Ludwig Grüner’s Jewel-Cabinet is the fourth work of art to go on display at Ferens Art Gallery.
During the Great Exhibition of 1851, where Victorian advancement and cultural sophistication were celebrated, the Jewel-Cabinet was one of the award-winning exhibits. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, gave her this cherished gift. Since then, it has been preserved in the Royal Collection and remains a significant royal artifact.
Every surface of the exquisite Jewel Cabinet is adorned with portraits and medallions depicting the many faces of Queen Victoria’s family. In 1854, this same family visited Hull.
The Royal Collection Trust’s Senior Curator of Decorative Arts, Kathryn Jones, said:
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Ferens Art Gallery with the loan of Queen Victoria’s Jewel-Cabinet. This is the fourth masterpiece from the Royal Collection to go on display in Hull since our collaboration began in 2017. The Jewel-Cabinet encapsulates the family life of Queen Victoria but was always intended to be widely seen at the Great Exhibition of 1851. We hope that as many people as possible will once again enjoy the opportunity to view this spectacular object up close.”
A programme of talks and workshops for adults complements the exhibition during the school holidays. You can find more information about these events at www.hcandl.co.uk/ferens or book tickets through Eventbrite at www.hullmuseums.eventbrite.com.
