Art's a big draw; EXHIBITION: Famous collection of rare paintings heads for city gallery.

Byline: by Jenny Waddington

A MAJOR exhibition of some of Britain's most notable drawings and watercolours is being held in Coventry next month.

Visitors will have the chance to view the rare exhibition at the newly-refurbished Herbert Art Gallery and Museum from January 13 until March 22.

Masterpiece Watercolours and Drawings - a touring exhibition from National Museums Liverpool - features works by JMW Turner, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, David Cox, Edward Lear, Peter de Wint and Edward Burne-Jones. The 50 pieces of art will be on display each day in Gallery four at the venue in the city centre's Jordan Well.

Dominic Bubb, exhibitions officer at The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, said this was a rare chance to see some of the incredible collection held at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, Merseyside.

He added: "This magnificent collection follows the development of the British watercolour school in the 18th century through to the 19th and 20th centuries and the exhibition will appeal to audiences who love traditional art.

"The Lady Lever Art Gallery holds one of the best collections of British watercolours and drawings in the country.

"The gallery was founded by William Hesketh Lever, First Viscount Leverhulme, who was the son of a grocer from Bolton and became a wealthy soap manufacturer.

"The exhibition is divided into different sections. The first section concentrates on the British drawings and watercolours that Lever collected from the 1890s until his death in 1925, the second section explores his relationship with art dealers, particularly James Orrock and the third section highlights the acquisitions made by trustees at the gallery since his death.

"The majority of these works of art had not been on display until this year as part of Liverpool's European Capital of Culture celebrations so we are delighted to be bringing this rare collection to the city.

"To compliment the exhibition we will be showing some of The Herbert's costume collection in Gallery four."

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ON TOUR: JMW Turner's Richmond Hill will be on show at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum