“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances,” as Shakespeare remarked.
Through the time corridor, we travel back to The Theatre in the 16th century. Being Britain’s first playhouse, The Theatre was built in London in 1576. People love being entertained, the more the better. Over the following 16 years, there were 17 more public theatres established. To satisfy the growing demand, writers flourished and were requested to write many new plays each year, including Shakespeare himself.
Drury Lane Theatre
Thomas Rowlandson
MFA, Boston
61.517
Presented to you are carefully selected art pieces crafted by some of the most distinguished artists of their time. Each piece embodies a colourful story, a time, or a world beyond your imagination.
Audiences of all tastes will always find something that piques their interest. One moment you are sitting in a theatre, dazzled by a variety of glamorous performances, the next you are wandering about a garden full of plants and animals, giggling with mischievous elves. Forget not to welcome yourself to a masquerade - a form of courtly entertainment that burgeoned in the 16th and early 17th century Europe. Put on your gorgeous costumes as you walk in the door, dance to the music, and make a twirl……
Flowers from Shakespeare's Garden
Walter Crane
MFA, Boston
63.731
OrpheusThrough the pulsating visions of Harry Clarke, an Irish pioneer figure best known for his stained glass designs and book illustrations in the early 20th century, you enter a world of whim and sophistication. You might have seen some of his works in Catholic churches and cafes in Dublin but never recognised his name. Hidden in the oft-overlooked places, Clarke’s works are never the definition of ordinary.
The characters in Clarke’s illustrations are mostly in bold and rich colors, eyes deep and expressive. Clarke depicts a world in which both the sacred and the secular powers are intertwined. He takes you on a rollercoaster ride, reaching far out to the holiest fantasies, and diving deep down into your darkest dreams. Such intense contrast is almost too much to bear, yet you find yourself lost in his wild, otherworldly imagination, not wanting to wake up.
The Years at the Spring, an anthology of recent poetry
Harry Clarke
MFA, Boston
2014.2439
The Years at the Spring, an anthology of recent poetry
Harry Clarke
MFA, Boston
2014.2439
If you get a hankering for Art Nouveau, you can even hop on a time machine, skipping hundreds of years for some great artworks by George Barbier.
ARTiSTORY is proud to develop stories and creative assets inspired by MFA Boston and National Gallery.
