Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery: Lucifer sculpture celebration heralds activities week
A sculpture which has been a centrepiece for a Midland museum for 70 years features during a week-long celebration.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is taking part in the third annual Museum Week from Monday, June 19, to Sunday June 25.
It is an international online event which celebrates cultural and heritage institutions with a fun packed week of activities and offers.
The Sir Jacob Epstein sculpture, Lucifer, was gifted to the museum, in the heart of the city centre, back in 1947.
It is considered one of his most important sculptures and represents the Archangel Lucifer, referred to as the bringer of light and the most beautiful of all angels.
It has become synonymous with the Round Room Gallery and welcomes visitors as they enter the museum.
Sir Jacob Epstein attended the installation of Lucifer in 1947, and watched as the two-ton bronze sculpture was hoisted in through a window to get it into the museum.
Lucifer has been on permanent display ever since, and some visitors may remember when it was displayed in the museum’s Edwardian tea rooms.
To celebrate this iconic artwork’s museum anniversary there will be a tea and cake offer from 3.30pm to 5pm in the Edwardian Tearooms.
Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Lisa Beauchamp, will be offering short talks on Epstein's Lucifer during the afternoon and visitors will also be able to join an epic photo opportunity around the statue at 4pm.
Everyone is welcome to wear their party angel wings to mark the celebration of the artwork and the museum will stay open until 5.45pm for those looking to join in after work.
For those interested in hearing more about the artist, the Electric Cinema will be showing Jacob Epstein: Rebel Angel, a 1987 documentary about the life and work of the sculptor, on August 3.
For ticket information please visit theelectric.co.uk
There will be a range of other events taking place during the week including:
June 19: #FoodMW – ‘Buy one get one free’ offer on Traditional Afternoon Tea in the Edwardian Tearooms
June 20: #SportsMW – Bring your mat and try yoga in the museum
June 21: #MusicMW – Relaxed lunch as Colmore Choir will be performing above the Edwardian Tearooms
June 22: #StoriesMW – Children's interactive storytelling session
June 23: #BookMW – It’s a Dog’s life tour exploring the reasons why dogs appear so often in paintings
June 23: #BookMW - Lucifer's birthday tea party, marking 70 years since Epstein’s iconic sculpture, based on John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost, came to the museum and art gallery, with talks and a deal on tea and cake in the Edwardian Tearooms
June 24: #TravelsMW – A European Journey talk, reflecting on the importance of European travel for artists and their patrons
June 25: #HeritageMW – A chance to meet heritage volunteers in costume and hear more about Birmingham Museums’ Heritage Sites
Look out for more #MuseumWeek news on Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s social media pages – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – and visit the website for more details birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/whats-on
