Georgians Revealed: Life, Style and the Making of Modern Britain, British Library, until 11^th March

There is still just over a month to go and see this exhibition which takes us spiritedly through the reigns of the first four King Georges and introduces us to the life and style of the Georgian era.

Van Aken, An English family at tea on loan from Tate Britain, image © Tate Britain

In many ways it is similar to our own times but different by the fact that here you see the first British fashion magazine and learn about the first celebrity scandal to hit the press.  Through the exhibits we learn about the different strata of society, their likes and dislikes, their pastimes, their homes, travels, shopping, their charity and see that much of this still has some relevance in our own age.

Masquerade mask. 1780s © Museum of London

Alongside the books, objects and ephemera from the British Library are pictures, furniture, ceramics, statues, Georgian shoes and the violin belonging to the great philosopher and social reformer, Jeremy Bentham which are loaned by various other museums and galleries.

Georgian fan leaf. ‘La Menuet’. 1790-1811 (c) Courtesy of the British Museum

Outside in the piazza, thanks to the The Sackler Trust, is a Georgian style garden installation the Georgeobelisk designed by the celebrated landscape architect and historian Todd Longstaffe-Gowan together with Cityscapes.

Statue. Boy from Farringdon Ward School. 1705-1800 © Museum of London

All in all a good way to celebrate the three hundredth anniversary of the accession of George I to the throne in 1714!

George Cruikshank. La belle assemblee. London, 1817. Image © British Library Board

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Spectators at a Print shop in St Paul’s churchyard (c) British Museum