How did artists and Antiquaries create visual records of objects and places before the invention of photography? How did they ensure the visual preservation of fragile heritage? The next display at the Society of Antiquaries will showcase how monuments, archaeological finds, and faraway places were immortalised through sketching and printing.

By bringing together drawings, printing plates, woodblocks, and their impressions, along with some of the original objects, the display will allow visitors to trace the creative process behind engraved images. Through six themes, the display will not only exemplify the breadth of the Society’s collections but also reveal the collaborative work of antiquaries and artists. This display is a celebration of the enduring legacy of those early visual records and their crucial role in preserving in ink the memory of disappearing heritage, much like today’s digitisation campaigns.

Please note: This display is available to be seen by Fellows and Affiliate Members during our regular Library opening hours (Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm) and by members of the public who are coming to the building as part of an event which they have booked for.