RICH MAN, POOR MAN: Art, Class, and Commerce in a Late Medieval Town
The MET Cloisters | Spring 2024
ABOUT
In sixteenth-century England's hierarchical society, beneath the monarchy and nobility, the "middling sort" sought self-fashioning through art and architecture. This exhibition delves into the emergence of middle-class taste, spotlighting domestic sculptures commissioned by merchant Henry Hamlyn in late medieval England. Adorning his house, these sculptures depict stock characters from popular culture, reflecting rustic themes that oscillate between amusement and menace.
"Rich Man, Poor Man" features over fifty artworks, including textiles, prints, and furnishings, offering insights into Hamlyn's attraction to such imagery. It underscores the home's role as a canvas for individual expression and a reflection of societal hierarchy, both internally and externally.
Casework by Archive Design. All Other Work by 3rd Party Vendor.
