Exhibitionism

Two events coming up in the summer are Exhibitions, displaying some of the curious and rare items in our collections, as well as the plans for how they should be housed.

Over the weekend after 11th August, i.e. Newman's anniversary, the theme will be, predictably, Newman himself. It will be a rare opportunity to see the Venables portrait and the Westmacott bust, as well as the more familiar Richmond etching, other portraits of Newman, the manuscript of "Lead Kindly Light", a signed book and picture, and early editions of many of his books and pamphlets including Tract XC. Also the engravings which were used for "Newman's Oxford" will be on display. The booklet itself is being published this week by Family Publications, and is available from them or from the Oratory lodge.

The bank holiday weekend, 28th-30th August, the display will concentrate on church vestments. Some of the beautifully embroidered vestments used in the Oratory church will be displayed, together with explanation of their origin and meaning. There will also be a display of brass rubbings showing mediaeval vestments from brasses in Britain and the Continent. It is not generally known that the Oxford Oratory houses what is probably one of the five largest collections of brass rubbings in the world, which will also be housed in the new library and accessible to researchers.

So two dates to remember: weekends of 14th-15th August, and 28th to 30th August.