Arts and Literature

Now, a century and a half on from it, the Manchester Art Gallery are reviving the exhibition, though space requirements mean that they’ll only have room for one percent of the original 16,000 exhibits.

The Cellini Shield (c. 1562-3)

Yet, it is a case of quality over quantity. Alongside Michelangelo’s Manchester Madonna (so called because it debuted here), which will return to the city for the first time since 1857, there are works on show by Hogarth, Gainsborough, Turner, Constable, several Old Masters and more than a few prominent Pre-Raphaelites!

Of course, the exhibition was always about more than paintings, so just like its Victorian predecessor, the 2007 show has early Wedgwood ceramics, European porcelain, Venetian glass, Limoges enamels, Renaissance metalwork and European armour.

Anthony van Dyck's Cupid and Psyche (detail)

Sadly though, there won’t be a return for the electrical exhibits, which showcased the cutting-edge discoveries of 1857, but then, they probably weren’t that safe, given that electricity was still something of an untamed beast back then.

But one thing is certain. While it may not be as big as the 1857 exhibition, this year’s show certainly delivers the same aims; proving that Manchester is an inspirational place where you can see some of the world’s greatest art. It was true then and it’s still true now.

Art Treasures In Manchester: 150 Years On in at the Manchester Art Gallery from Saturday 6 October 2007 to Sunday 27 January 2008. Entry is free.