Making History: Stories from the Past

1 October – 25 March

This exhibition showcases paintings from Gallery Oldham’s collection which tell historical stories. From The Return of the Crusaders by John Everett Millais to Edgar Bundy’s The Puritans, it includes scenes

from some of the major events of British History. The show includes Victorian depictions of the English Civil Wars, the Princes in the Tower, and Napoleon.

Artists have often used historical subjects as a vehicle for the social and political concerns of their own time. Their paintings often tell us as much about the time in which they were painted as about the subjects they are depicting.

Making History also includes more recent works including Sean Keating’s extraordinary painting about the birth of the Republic of Ireland, ‘Night’s Candles are Burnt Out’ returning to Oldham from long-term loan. From 21 January the show will also

include Bill Viola’s powerful video work The Passions, on loan from National Museums Liverpool.