Eye to Eye
Discovering People in Portraits
An exciting exploration of portraiture from the 16th century to the modern era from the Museum’s permanent collection. Most of the works on show were newly researched and conserved for the exhibition and many had not been on public display for many years.
Despite our present day obsession with image, this exhibition demonstrated our ancestors were no less image conscious than ourselves. Within their portraits are fascinating and sometimes moving personal stories – some revealed here for the first time. Though portraiture has traditionally been the preserve of the rich and powerful,
Exeter’s collections have surprising variety. Sporting heroes and street traders could be seen alongside aristocrats, poets, merchants and politicians.
