The Barber Institute of Fine Arts launches innovative online exhibition curated by students
‘Fragments of Devotion’ is the Barber's second exhibition delivered in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum.
‘Devotion leaves traces—on parchment, in song, through touch. Across centuries, acts of worship have imprinted themselves on sacred manuscripts, transforming them into deeply personal objects of connection and belief.’
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts recently unveiled their online exhibition: Fragments of Devotion: A Sensory History of Illuminated Manuscript Cuttings. Featuring illuminated manuscript cuttings from the Victoria and Albert Museum and rarely seen Books of Hours from the Barber’s collection, the exhibition explores the many ways people practiced their faith during the medieval and early modern periods. Throughout the digital experience you’ll get to see how religious expression goes beyond written text, but through gesture, music, and deeply personal engagement with these pages.
High quality images of the objects are combined with music, close-up details, and videos to provide an immersive arts experience accessible wherever you are.
Fragments of Devotion was developed by MA History of Art and Curating students, giving them practical experience in curating an exhibit. They had the opportunity to travel to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and explore their vast collection of manuscript cuttings. By combining these with precious Books of Hours from the Barber and the Cadbury Research Library, they have woven a fascinating narrative on the multi-sensory aspects of worship revealed by these objects.
For student Phillipa Harris, Fragments of Devotion was an entirely unique curatorial experience. She commented: “The greatest challenge – and opportunity – was designing an online format that could do justice to these intricate objects. In physical exhibitions, viewers can examine fine details up close. Online, we had to replicate and enhance that experience.”
She continued: “This project has made me excited for the future of curating in the digital realm. As museums continue to innovate, I look forward to exploring how technology can deepen our connection to art and history – one fragment at a time.”
Fragments of Devotion: A Sensory History of Illuminated Manuscript Cuttings is available to explore for free on the Barber Institute website.