Thursday, 20th March 2008 (2508 views)

A gold 'friendship box' is among the items on display at the National Portrait Gallery's current Brilliant Women exhibition.

Celebrating the lives of the fashionable bluestocking circle, which became synonymous with Enlightenment social practices in the 18th century, the exhibition explores the intellectual and fashionable influence of the women involved with the community.

In addition to portraits of leading bluestockings such as Elizabeth Carter, Fanny Burney and Anna Seward, the exhibition draws attention to a small enamel and gold friendship box.

Dating back to 1740, the piece represented the emotional bonds between Elizabeth Montagu, Margaret Cavendish, Mary Delany and Mary Howard, to whom the box was left by Cavendish in her will.

The precious metal also forms part of the frames in which the bluestocking portraits are mounted.

Running until June 15th, the exhibition has been recommended by Leonie Cooper on web resource the Lipster, which notes that entry into the display is free.

 

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