Literature, art and theatre take centre stage at the Fitzwilliam Museum.

Literary Circles

Throughout history, literature, art and theatre have strived to tell stories, convey facts and depict beauty. Sometimes the different disciplines have reinforced each other. Sometimes they have been in competition.

‘Literary Circles’ explores the relationships between British artists and writers during the 19th and 20th centuries.

With exhibits from the likes of John Keats, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Robert Browning, Augustus John and Siegfried Sassoon, ‘Literary Circles’ aims to uncover the bonds of affection and close collaboration that were central to the Museum’s evolution and the enrichment of its collection.

Chasing Happiness

‘Chasing Happiness’ displays the captivating stage sets for Maeterlinck’s celebrated play, ‘The Blue Bird.’

‘The Blue Bird’ was one of the most popular productions of Edwardian England and enjoyed phenomenal success when first staged at the Haymarket Theatre in London in 1909.

The play’s cultural influence was so great that the blue bird came to be directly associated with happiness and was adopted throughout the 20th century as a name or symbol for everything from face cream and biscuits to racing cars and football strips.

The original set designs were recently acquired by the Fitzwilliam with the generous support of the Art Fund, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and the Victoria & Albert Museum. They are on public display in a formal exhibition for the first time.

Jane Munro, exhibition curator at the Fitzwilliam, said: “These complementary collections are intended to explore the wide range of relationship between text, written and spoken, and image, whether as illustration, caricature, dream, vision or performance.”

‘Literary Circles: artist, author, word and image in Britain 1800-1920’ runs until 30 December this year and includes a programme of talks and courses to accompany the exhibition.

‘Chasing Happiness: Maeterlinck, the Blue Bird and England’ is open until the 7 January 2007. Further details are available from the Fitzwilliam Museum’s website. Entry to both exhibitions is free.