This week: Brian May's collection of Victorian photographs at Tate Britain

Queen guitarist Dr Brian May's collection of Victorian stereoscopoic photographs amongst the highlights of the Tate Britain BP Spotlight autumn season

Michael Burr, Hearts are Trumps 1866, Collection Dr. Brian May, courtesy of Tate
It’s all change at Tate Britain with a blustery new autumnal season and a new spotlight collection on display. With a host of works to discover from Tate’s collection, Culture Whisper picks out its favourites that should not be missed. 
‘Poor man’s picture gallery’: Victorian Art and Stereoscopic Photography 
Monday 13 October 2014 – Sunday 12 April 2015
Our first must-see is a fascinating collection of 19th century three-dimensional photographs from none other than legendary Queen guitarist and astronomer Dr Brian May, on display for the first time at a major British gallery. The Victorians were infatuated with these inexpensive stereograph pictures which recreated acclaimed paintings in real depth. Tate has ingeniously brought together a series of these photographs with their fine art counterparts, including Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces by Henry Wallis (see image above) and William Powell Frith. Known as a 'Poor Man's Picture Gallery', these stereographs made well-known paintings accessible to the masses even inspired contemporary painters. Pay attention to stereoscopic photography by Alexis Gaudin and Michael Burr who preempted paintings by established artists such as John Everett Millais and Robert Martineau
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William Hogarth
Monday 27 October 2014 – Sunday 26 April 2015
Gilbert and George’s rebellious ancestor, William Hogarth, is highlighted at the 250th anniversary of his death. An iconic figure in British art, Hogarth is famed for his satirical engravings of modern moral subjects such as The Harlot’s Progress and his representation of debauchery in 18th century London. These paintings and chalk drawings on display at Tate Britain look particularly at the historical relationship between Tate and the selection of Hogarth works held in its collection. 
Spaces of Black Modernism: London 1919-1939 
Monday 13 October 2014 – Sunday 29 March 2015
Finally, look out for the pictorial, sculptural and written accounts by young artisans who frequented the studios, art colleges and social clubs of Chelsea, Bloomsbury and Soho in the 1920s and 1930s. The multi-ethnic exchange between icons like sculptor Ronald Moody, jazz singer Elisabeth Welch and writer Nancy Cunard (to name a few) shaped the cultural and political identity of the London we know and love today.  
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