Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is currently attempting to raise the large sum of £25,000 to help restore two artworks: ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ and ‘The Holy Grail Tapestries.’  The tapestries were created by Edward Burne-Jones with John Henry Dearle and William Morris and the painting by Edward Burne-Jones. Both art pieces are in the Pre-Raphaelite style.

 ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ is the world’s largest watercolour and it’s been on display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for 130 years. The painting was commissioned by the City of Birmingham for its new Museum and Art Gallery in 1887 and was completed in 1890.  Burne-Jones had previously created a version of the art piece but was able to add more detail into the artwork particularly in the clothing due to the immense size of the piece. The rich colour palette of blues and greens also add to the detail that can be viewed in the painting.  

The painting features the ‘Adoration of the Magi,’ which is the name traditionally given to the subject in the Nativity of Jesus in art.  An angel can also be seen holding the star of Bethlehem in the painting.

The watercolour currently needs restoration work in order to ensure that future generations will be able to view the monumental piece of work. The fragile glazing on the painting needs restoring as the old thin, Victorian glazing has become damaged. Additionally, the museum will carefully assess the painting for any additional damage and will converse the painting.  

The second piece of ‘The Holy Grail Tapestries’ was designed by Edward Burne Jones and woven by William Morris & Co in 1895-96. The creation of the piece was a group effort with figures designed by Edward Burne-Jones, heraldry by William Morris, and foreground florals and backgrounds by John Henry Dearle.  There are six panels in total and they depict the story of the legend of King Arthur and the quest for the Holy Grail. The pieces were commissioned  by William Knox D’Arcy in 1890 for his dining room at Stanmore Hall, outside London. 

The tapestries have not been on display since 2015 and prior to that they had not been displayed for eight years. The six tapestries are the only versions from the Holy Grail series in any public collection.  The tapestries are incredibly rare and extremely light-sensitive and, as a result, care must be taken with them which is why they are not on display permanently. The six tapestries were acquired for Birmingham’s collection between 1907 and 1980. The pieces are called; The Summons, The Arming and Departure, The Failure of Sir Gawaine, The Ship, The Attainment and Verdure. They are the most complete surviving representation of the Arthurian legend.

Unfortunately, the delicate Holy Grail tapestries are at serious risk of weakening and even tearing. As a result, they require serious and expensive restoration work in order to save them. Conservation needs to be undertaken by specialists to clean and reline the important tapestries if they are to survive for future generations. 

Both pieces are incredibly important not just to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery but to the art community as a whole. The watercolour and tapestries are monumental in both of their artistic fields.  Both pieces required such precise skill and dedication in order to create them and are unique pieces that cannot be recreated or found in any other collection.  The pieces must be protected so that future generations can examine the pieces; we cannot let such amazing pieces deteriorate and disappear. 

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