New exhibition opens
Picturing Eton has opened in the Verey Gallery. This exhibition explores the history of photography through the daily life of the college revealed in the Photographic Archive collection, from the first photograph taken of Eton to the digital photography of today. The launch brought together colleagues from across the college along with visiting archivists, photographers and supporters, and it was particularly special to welcome Brian Smith, whose generous donation of photographs of Eton from 1980 features prominently in the exhibition. Picturing Eton is open until April 2027 on Sunday afternoons and by appointment.
Eton portrait on tour
The College Collections has lent Mary Severn’s Seated Boy (1858) to Fundación MAPFRE in Madrid for display in the exhibition Women Artists: Pathways through Pre-Raphaelitism (1850-1914), from 24 September. The exhibition explores the experiences and artistic journeys of women associated with the pre-Raphaelite movement.
Building plans digitised
We have now digitised 380 historic building plans. This is the first phase of a large-scale project to ensure that all plans for Eton-specific buildings are available digitally in the College Archives. Shown here is the proposed east elevation of the new Queen’s Schools, drawn up by Arthur Blomfield in 1887.
Boys go behind the scenes
College Library welcomed some 20 boys for a meeting of the Savile Society for bibliophiles, with a behind the scenes tour of the library. Dr Peter Mann, Master-in-Charge of the society, began the visit with an overview of some of early scientific material; the library team then took the boys to explore some of the lesser-seen treasures in the nooks and crannies of Lupton’s Tower.
St Mercurius back on his horse
A glazed ceramic tile from the Museum of Antiquities has been repaired and restored (ECM.2166-2010). The relief, believed to date from the 12th or 13th century AD, depicts a mounted saint, thought to be St Mercurius, holding a long spear as his horse tramples a fallen figure beneath its feet. The horse’s head had become detached and required careful conservation. Dirt trapped within the break lines was removed, and tiny fragments of glaze, ceramic and painted plaster were stabilised, helping to preserve this remarkable example of Coptic art. Read more about its restoration on the Collections Blog.
Poetic objects on display in London
September 2026 marks 180 years since Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning were married in St Marylebone Parish Church in London. College Library has lent the church several items from Eton’s Browning collection for a display to mark this anniversary, including an oval gold locket, a range of carte-de-visite images and Browning’s calling card case.
Illuminating stained glass
The conservation team are making progress preparing exhibits for the soon-to-be refurbished Museum of Eton Life, which will re-open in the new year. We have recently finished fabricating a light box and frame to house stained glass depicting Eton heraldry.
Coin collection identified
A volunteer has identified a total of 585 Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Victorian coins, many of which were donated to the college in 1949 by the family of William Louring OE. Highlights include an Aeginetan Stater from 480-431 BC depicting a tortoise; a silver Athenian Obol from c.510 – 500 BC – the smallest coin in the collection with a diameter of only 4mm; and a Greek copper 20 Lepta from 1831 featuring a phoenix.
Read the latest Collections Blog
