Art History Lecture Series: A Cabinet of Curiosities

An exhibition of artworks from NMAG's collection celebrates the variety of genres, methods and media used by women artists, from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 11 November - Sunday 12 April 2026 Throughout history, both men and women have created art, yet only a select few have been remembered within Western art history. Art by men was historically valued more highly than art by women, reflecting broader beliefs that only men could possess artistic or creative genius. Certain genres and mediums were also considered more prestigious, while work made in the domestic sphere was dismissed as craft or decoration rather than recognised as fine art. Women were barred from studying nude figures a crucial part of classical art training until the late 1800s. Second-wave feminism in the twentieth century, and wider social changes in the twenty-first, have challenged these hierarchies. Today, women are at the forefront of artistic production, with artists such as Tracey Emin, Maggi Hambling, Rachel Whiteread and Jasleen Kaur recognised as leading voices in contemporary art.

Step back to the Carboniferous period, 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 21 February - Sunday 7 June 2026 Visit tropical forests and swamps teeming with bizarre and ferocious ancient monsters, some of which had larger teeth than T. rex. Meet the dinosaurs' distant ancestors, the very first reptiles, the largest creepy-crawlies ever to live, and prehistoric animals unlike anything you've ever seen before! A must-see for prehistoric monster fans of all ages!

An exhibition of artworks from NMAG's collection celebrates the variety of genres, methods and media used by women artists, from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 11 November - Sunday 12 April 2026 Throughout history, both men and women have created art, yet only a select few have been remembered within Western art history. Art by men was historically valued more highly than art by women, reflecting broader beliefs that only men could possess artistic or creative genius. Certain genres and mediums were also considered more prestigious, while work made in the domestic sphere was dismissed as craft or decoration rather than recognised as fine art. Women were barred from studying nude figures a crucial part of classical art training until the late 1800s. Second-wave feminism in the twentieth century, and wider social changes in the twenty-first, have challenged these hierarchies. Today, women are at the forefront of artistic production, with artists such as Tracey Emin, Maggi Hambling, Rachel Whiteread and Jasleen Kaur recognised as leading voices in contemporary art.

Step back to the Carboniferous period, 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 21 February - Sunday 7 June 2026 Visit tropical forests and swamps teeming with bizarre and ferocious ancient monsters, some of which had larger teeth than T. rex. Meet the dinosaurs' distant ancestors, the very first reptiles, the largest creepy-crawlies ever to live, and prehistoric animals unlike anything you've ever seen before! A must-see for prehistoric monster fans of all ages!

An exhibition of artworks from NMAG's collection celebrates the variety of genres, methods and media used by women artists, from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 11 November - Sunday 12 April 2026 Throughout history, both men and women have created art, yet only a select few have been remembered within Western art history. Art by men was historically valued more highly than art by women, reflecting broader beliefs that only men could possess artistic or creative genius. Certain genres and mediums were also considered more prestigious, while work made in the domestic sphere was dismissed as craft or decoration rather than recognised as fine art. Women were barred from studying nude figures a crucial part of classical art training until the late 1800s. Second-wave feminism in the twentieth century, and wider social changes in the twenty-first, have challenged these hierarchies. Today, women are at the forefront of artistic production, with artists such as Tracey Emin, Maggi Hambling, Rachel Whiteread and Jasleen Kaur recognised as leading voices in contemporary art.

Step back to the Carboniferous period, 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 21 February - Sunday 7 June 2026 Visit tropical forests and swamps teeming with bizarre and ferocious ancient monsters, some of which had larger teeth than T. rex. Meet the dinosaurs' distant ancestors, the very first reptiles, the largest creepy-crawlies ever to live, and prehistoric animals unlike anything you've ever seen before! A must-see for prehistoric monster fans of all ages!

Location: Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Date(s): Thursday 15 January - Thursday 26 March 10.30am – 12pm Cost: £3.50 per talk or £17.50 for a series ticket

An exhibition of artworks from NMAG's collection celebrates the variety of genres, methods and media used by women artists, from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 11 November - Sunday 12 April 2026 Throughout history, both men and women have created art, yet only a select few have been remembered within Western art history. Art by men was historically valued more highly than art by women, reflecting broader beliefs that only men could possess artistic or creative genius. Certain genres and mediums were also considered more prestigious, while work made in the domestic sphere was dismissed as craft or decoration rather than recognised as fine art. Women were barred from studying nude figures a crucial part of classical art training until the late 1800s. Second-wave feminism in the twentieth century, and wider social changes in the twenty-first, have challenged these hierarchies. Today, women are at the forefront of artistic production, with artists such as Tracey Emin, Maggi Hambling, Rachel Whiteread and Jasleen Kaur recognised as leading voices in contemporary art.

Step back to the Carboniferous period, 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 21 February - Sunday 7 June 2026 Visit tropical forests and swamps teeming with bizarre and ferocious ancient monsters, some of which had larger teeth than T. rex. Meet the dinosaurs' distant ancestors, the very first reptiles, the largest creepy-crawlies ever to live, and prehistoric animals unlike anything you've ever seen before! A must-see for prehistoric monster fans of all ages!

Location: Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Date(s): Fridays | 9 January - 27 March 2026 10:15 – 11:45am Cost: £5 per child per session

Location: Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Date(s): Friday 27 February – Friday 27 March 10.15am 12.15pm Cost: £6 per lecture, or £25 for the whole series ticket Includes tea/coffee and biscuits Booking essential Before there were public art galleries there were cabinets of curiosities, where connoisseurs demonstrated their taste and learning through the objects they had collected and commissioned. Classical and exotic objects were particularly prized. This series explores ‘curiosities’ created to highlight the taste and career of patrons. It explores the different ways in which artists responded to these trends with their own collections, creations and re-imaginings. Friday 27 February Questioning the Canon: Thoughts on the Portrait of Sir Christopher Hatton Speaker: Conny Bailey Artwork: Allegorical Portrait of Sir Christopher Hatton Friday 6 March Humanists, Connoisseurs and Collections: unearthing and reimagining in the Italian Renaissance. Speaker: Miriam Gill Artwork: Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano, A Classical Sacrifice Friday 13 March Among my Souvenirs: collecting and Grand Tour whimsy Speaker: Miriam Gill Artwork: Giacomo Guardi (attributed to), Piazza San Marco Friday 20 March Art and Archaeology: record or re-imagining Speaker: Miriam Gill Artwork: Peter Berrisford, Mills at Pompei Friday 27 March The persistent object: studio ephemera in art Speaker: Conny...

If you’re looking for a way to unwind after a busy week or just want to make some new crafting friends, come along with your chosen craft to these friendly informal sessions. They take place every Friday lunchtime in the Northampton Museum & Art Gallery lower café area. Drop in – no booking required but please purchase a drink or something to eat from the cafe.

An exhibition of artworks from NMAG's collection celebrates the variety of genres, methods and media used by women artists, from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 11 November - Sunday 12 April 2026 Throughout history, both men and women have created art, yet only a select few have been remembered within Western art history. Art by men was historically valued more highly than art by women, reflecting broader beliefs that only men could possess artistic or creative genius. Certain genres and mediums were also considered more prestigious, while work made in the domestic sphere was dismissed as craft or decoration rather than recognised as fine art. Women were barred from studying nude figures a crucial part of classical art training until the late 1800s. Second-wave feminism in the twentieth century, and wider social changes in the twenty-first, have challenged these hierarchies. Today, women are at the forefront of artistic production, with artists such as Tracey Emin, Maggi Hambling, Rachel Whiteread and Jasleen Kaur recognised as leading voices in contemporary art.

Step back to the Carboniferous period, 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 21 February - Sunday 7 June 2026 Visit tropical forests and swamps teeming with bizarre and ferocious ancient monsters, some of which had larger teeth than T. rex. Meet the dinosaurs' distant ancestors, the very first reptiles, the largest creepy-crawlies ever to live, and prehistoric animals unlike anything you've ever seen before! A must-see for prehistoric monster fans of all ages!

An exhibition of artworks from NMAG's collection celebrates the variety of genres, methods and media used by women artists, from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 11 November - Sunday 12 April 2026 Throughout history, both men and women have created art, yet only a select few have been remembered within Western art history. Art by men was historically valued more highly than art by women, reflecting broader beliefs that only men could possess artistic or creative genius. Certain genres and mediums were also considered more prestigious, while work made in the domestic sphere was dismissed as craft or decoration rather than recognised as fine art. Women were barred from studying nude figures a crucial part of classical art training until the late 1800s. Second-wave feminism in the twentieth century, and wider social changes in the twenty-first, have challenged these hierarchies. Today, women are at the forefront of artistic production, with artists such as Tracey Emin, Maggi Hambling, Rachel Whiteread and Jasleen Kaur recognised as leading voices in contemporary art.

Step back to the Carboniferous period, 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 21 February - Sunday 7 June 2026 Visit tropical forests and swamps teeming with bizarre and ferocious ancient monsters, some of which had larger teeth than T. rex. Meet the dinosaurs' distant ancestors, the very first reptiles, the largest creepy-crawlies ever to live, and prehistoric animals unlike anything you've ever seen before! A must-see for prehistoric monster fans of all ages!