A new exhibition, Beauty in the Everyday: Dutch and Flemish Masters at Auckland Castle, which will be on display in the Bishop Trevor Gallery until 3 October.
Jan Steen (1625_26 – 1679), Villagers Merrymaking Outside an Inn, 1652 (detail),
Oil on canvas © The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle.
The new exhibition will focus on scenes of everyday life produced in the Low Countries during the seventeenth century. The paintings are expected to strike a particular chord with visitors, who may have reflected on the value we place on our outdoor spaces, communities, friends and families during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Clare Baron, Head of Exhibitions, said: “Dutch and Flemish painters offer us a glimpse of daily and domestic life 400 years ago, capturing everyday moments which many of us have taken for granted in the past – being able to sit outside with each other, meet together to celebrate birthdays and festivals, or just enjoy the company of a friend on a walk through the park. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, we treasure those moments so much more. This exhibition celebrates the small things which, every day, make such a difference to our lives.”