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Across several early mornings at the end of August paintings from the National Gallery are being ‘set free’ in Cromer. The streets around the Gem of the Norfolk Coast are being turned into an open air gallery as 30 paintings are hung outside buildings so that when the locals venture out they come face to face with some of the greatest achievements of Western European art.
The idea is simplicity itself. From Caravaggio to Zurbarán, Monet to Manet and van Gogh to van Huysum, this exciting new exhibition in collaboration with the National Gallery brings life-sized reproductions to the streets of Cromer, providing visitors with a multiplicity of photo opportunities other than the iconic pier. This exhibition is a follow-on from the Bigger Picture which brought an outside exhibition to Cromer during the lockdowns.
And the reason for masterpieces from Caravaggio to Constable vying for position on the streets of Cromer? While the National Gallery welcomes vast numbers, most people don’t have the opportunity to visit the gallery in London, and many are unaware that they display some of the most famous paintings in the world. This exhibition takes the images to the people, extending the reach of one of the most prestigious galleries in the world to the streets of Cromer.
Just as in a gallery, each painting has an information board about the image, linked to a dedicated website. A leaflet map supports the exhibition which adds an extra je ne sais quoi to the streets of Cromer this autumn and winter.
Great works have always inspired – the sixteenth century Grotesque old Woman is said to have inspired Tenniel’s illustration of the Ugly Duchess in Alice in Wonderland, the Arnolfini Portrait inspired some of the Muppets – and the team invite you to be inspired by the works in this exhibition.
Please see the map showing where the pictures are to help you find the paintings.
Please can you spare a few minutes compleing our short survey to help us plan future events and exhibitions.
If you’ve taken any photographs of the exhibition you’d like to share, please do so via Facebook or upload them here