Explore the ways portraiture was used to convey the character and prestige of its subjects

The artworks donated to the Art Gallery & Museum by the Reverend George Downing Bowles in 1850 form perhaps the most significant part of Worcester’s fine art collection. They are not only our first coherent group of artworks but are also some of the oldest in our care. Lost for decades during the war years, the portraits are a real hidden treasure of our collection, including portraits of famous historical figures such as Henry VIII, Erasmus and Mary Tudor.

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