Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Opulent Origins: 200 Years of Displaying Fine Art
2023 marks our 200th birthday!
In 1823, our forerunner, The Bristol Institution for the Advancement of Science, Literature, and the Fine Arts opened its doors to the public for the first time.
To mark the occasion, we’re investigating the origins of our Fine Art collection and reimagining the first exhibitions of paintings we hosted in the 1820s.
Join us as we investigate 200 Years of Displaying Fine Art at Bristol Museums.
What was the Bristol Institution?
The Bristol Institution for the Advancement of Science, Literature, and the Fine Arts was our founding organisation. It was in operation between 1823 and 1871, with premises on 17-31 Park Street.
The Bristol Institution was typical of the kind of ‘learned societies’ which emerged throughout the United Kingdom during the Georgian Period. It was a private club which belonged to its shareholders. The members had to financially contribute to maintain their membership. Institution membership was made up of the upper echelons of Bristol Society, who often belonged to different religious, economic, and social groupings.
The Institution’s focus was on natural history and geology, but there was also a gallery for exhibitions.
Browse through this online exhibition where we explore our early history and reimagine the heyday of art exhibitions hosted by the Bristol Institution.
Discover the Opulent Origins exhibition themes
“The history of one Institution is really the history of several, which at different periods became merged and consequently took new shapes.”
A brief Chronology of Bristol Museums
Founded in 1820, The Bristol Institution officially opened for business in January 1823.
Swipe through the images below to discover the stages in our history.
The Library Society (founded 1772) and the Philosophical & Literary Society (founded 1805)
In December 1772, a group of men founded the Bristol Library Society. By 1775, the group had moved into a building on King’s Street (designed by John Strahan or James Paty, built 1739 – 1740). Since 1805, a group of wealthy and well-connected locals, called the Philosophical and Literary Society had also been meeting regularly. Membership overlapped between these two private societies.
This group of forty “public-spirited” individuals wanted to open a public museum in the city, following examples set in London (e.g.) the British Institution (f.1805), and in the regions, such as Manchester and Norfolk.
In 1808, it was proposed that these two societies merge to form a cohesive unit and secure a building for Museum and educational endeavours.
In 1810 the Library Society voted against this amalgamation. The Philosophical & Literary Society continued to investigate the purchase of a larger building for its purposes.
This building is now the Cathay Rendezvous Chinese Restaurant.
Image:
Edward Cashin, active 1822 – 1826 ‘The Bristol City Library, King Street’, 1823
Watercolour on paper, Bequest 1908
M2503 © Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Sources of Wealth
It is crucial to recognise that much of the wealth in the Bristol Institution was amassed at the height of the British Empire, both directly and indirectly enabled by the transatlantic traffic and enslavement of millions of people.
The early history of the Bristol Institution reflects the legacies of mercantile wealth, shipbuilding, and colonialism in the city.
Membership of the Bristol Institution consisted of a cross-section of the upper echelons of Bristol society at the time. Many of the key players were merchants who had amassed enormous wealth from sugar production and the recently outlawed trade in enslaved people, such as the Bright Family, Philip John Miles (1773–1845), and Thomas Daniel (1762–1854).
Some Institution members, such as the Harford Family, Reverend Francis Randolph (1752-1831), and Hannah More (1745–1833) campaigned for abolition.
Despite the abolishment of the Slave Trade by UK Parliament in 1807, many Bristol merchants continued to financially benefit, and received compensation from the government between 1835–43.
The sources of wealth discussed in this exhibition, and accompanying catalogue uncover historical truths which link our collections with attitudes and behaviours that continue to cause hurt and distress. As we go forward, we are seeking to approach our objects with honesty and transparency.
We recognise that much more work needs to be done.