A world-first exhibition has opened on Australian shores featuring literary treasures all the way from England.
Gold Coast gallery HOTA (Home of the Arts) is hosting Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London from now until August 3.
The unprecedented exhibition features world-famous portraits and rare manuscripts from literary legends including William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, William Blake and Virginia Woolf, to name a few.
“Writers Revealed is a major coup for the Gold Coast, marking the first time these extraordinary works have been shown together outside of the UK,” says Yarmila Alfonzetti, head of arts and culture at Experience Gold Coast.
For as little as $19, gallery-goers can look upon a draft of Dracula by Bram Stoker, the only oil painting of Shakespeare made in his lifetime, and the portrait of Jane Austen drawn by her sister. These are quite the drawcards.
Writers Revealed is showcased across five thematic sections, providing insight into the influential figures who shaped 500 years of English literature.
In addition, there’s a program of talks, workshops and special events taking place over the 16-week period.
“This unprecedented collaboration between the National Portrait Gallery and the British Library features world-famous treasures from both collections that rarely leave London,” says Catharine MacLeod, senior curator of 17th-century collections at the National Portrait Gallery.
“It is a privilege to share our enthusiasm for these authors with visitors to HOTA; we hope that they enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet old literary friends and make new ones.”
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hota.com.au
