Who painted View of Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition?

View of Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition was painted by Philip Henry Delamotte in 1857.

Where can I see View of Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition?

View of Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is View of Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition?

View of Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

View of Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition

Philip Henry Delamotte , 1857

View of Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Philip Henry Delamotte. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The image is a sepia photograph of the main hall of the 1857 Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition.

About this work

Overview

The image is a sepia photograph of the main hall of the 1857 Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition. It records a spacious, glass‑roofed interior where sculptures are displayed on pedestals along both sides, with a central aisle of benches and a few visitors present.

Subject & Meaning

The picture documents the arrangement of classical and animal statues, including a tall figure holding a scroll and a horse with a rider, illustrating the exhibition’s emphasis on historic and mythological themes.

Technique & Style

Captured in monochrome, the photograph emphasizes light and shadow, highlighting the warm glow of daylight filtering through the high arched windows and the reflective surfaces of the glass roof and iron supports.

History & Provenance

The photograph is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection and serves as a visual record of the Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition, a major public display of artworks held in 1857.

Context

The hall’s design combines gallery and greenhouse elements, with iron columns and extensive glazing that were characteristic of mid‑19th‑century exhibition architecture, reflecting contemporary approaches to displaying art in a public setting.