Thomas Bewick: Looking Closely

Thomas Bewick (1753 – 1828) was an artist-engraver and naturalist born at Cherryburn, Northumberland. He revolutionised print art in Georgian England with his detailed miniature woodblock prints depicting rural life and the natural world. Through his enquiring gaze of animals and birds he was drawn to look closely at shapes, forms and colours in a way that is natural to both artists and scientists.

Thomas Bewick: Looking Closely takes place in the Tapestry Room and the Library in the House.

The display in the Tapestry Room explores Bewick’s career and work, including a chance to see both volumes of his most famous book A History of British Birds which form part of Croome's collection, along with an exploration into five common birds engraved by Thomas Bewick and found at Croome today.

In the Library, Tales from the Tale-pieces shows a collection of Thomas Bewick prints known as vignettes, and often referred to as tale pieces. These were supplementary images inserted to fill blank-space within pages, often bearing no relationship to the contents depicted. An indication of his humour and moral character can be seen through close inspection of the scenes, many offering commentary on important social issues of his time. Yet there is something enduring within the work that make them relevant within contemporary society, functioning as modern-day cautionary tales.