The Pre-Raphaelite Collection consists of 120 paintings and drawings from the 1840s to the 1890s. The Pre-Raphaelites were storytellers and many paintings were inspired by the Bible, including narratives and clear moral messages. It is an important historic art collection for the Manchester Art Gallery as many of the paintings were bought by the gallery soon after they were painted. The project focused on finding out what, if anything, these paintings mean to today’s Mancunians.

The purpose of the project was to engage audiences and to develop new and innovative ways of interpreting the collection through a programme of experimental workshops. The project involved transforming Gallery 6 at the Manchester Art Gallery into a practical space to display the paintings, present visitor information and deliver discussions, events, workshops and performances. The project concentrated on four particular paintings in detail – The Hireling Shepherd by William Hung, Answering the Emigrant’s Letter by James Collinson, The Bower Meadow by Dante Rossetti and Autumn Leaves by John Everett Millais.