Five Conversations.
one half of a performative lecture which took place 16 03 12 at the Harris Museum, Preston. Based on field notes from February visit to Florence.
1.
Here we are in front of the cast copy of the Gates of Paradise in this beautiful ground floor atrium space that houses the café and entrance to the library in the Harris Museum here in Preston.
Replica casts of original sculptural and architectural original works of art were first created in the 16th century. Over time the process became more mechanised and their popularity grew.
The biggest display of casts in this country was seen by over a third of the British public at the 1851 Great Exhibition which was organised by Prince Albert and Henry Cole, the director of the Victoria & Albert Museum. It is almost certain that a copy of this cast was on display for that event.
Casts were seen as educational tools and cast collections were formed in art schools over the world.
Casts were also purchased by collectors and museums to be displayed for the general public to view and marvel at works from around the world; works that they may never have the opportunity to see. Remembering that cameras weren’t invented and travel costs were very high, this was their opportunity to experience part of the world in their own town. You could say it was like bringing parts of the grand tour to their doorstep.
2.
This building was designed by local architect James Hibbert. It is now a Grade I listed building, which houses the Library, Museum and Art Gallery.
Hibbert was an interesting character, someone who had a passion for doing what he believed was right for the town and the people who lived here. He wanted to create a building and its contents that would educate, inform and enlighten those who visited. You can see that this was expressed in a permanently visible way in both the interior and exterior texts on the building. You can see this around the central atrium space, but have a look on the outside as you leave too.
3.
The Preston cast of the Gates of Paradise was part of a wider selection of 30 casts personally selected by the building architect James Hibbert to adorn the interior of the building. The purchase was supported by a grant for £500 from the Victoria & Albert museum which represented 50% of the total cost.
This particular cast was supplied by the Brucciani Casting Company of London and arrived by train in 7 boxes in December 1890. It cost £100 and was one of the most expensive and largest of the purchases, along with a cast of David which is no longer here. Delays nearly led to the grant running out of time and being lost, eventually Hibbert personally paid the £100 for the Gates of Paradise and was reimbursed by the committee later.
The Gates of Paradise have been on permanent display here since the grand public opening in 1893.
4.
Over time it has been necessary to protect this cast which was originally white plaster. This material was favoured to allow people to have a clear vision of the sculptural qualities of the work. Over time you can probably see here that damage has occurred, and the museum has at some point decided to protect it with paint and an over layer of varnish.
5.
Preston was not alone in choosing to purchase a cast of the Gates of Paradise. There were other casting companies in Europe and America producing both plaster and metal or electrotype cast replicas.
Casts began to fall out of fashion as the debate ensued about the values of real versus fake, copy versus original. Many cast collections were broken up in the 1950s and 1960s.
