Selection from 'Hidden Highlights: Life in Lockdown' 24.10.2020-18.4.2021

As we all struggle to remember things before Covid-19, ‘Life in Lockdown’ takes a light-hearted look at art from our collection, created B.C. (Before Coronavirus).

2020 has not gone entirely to plan here at the Russell-Cotes. Our exhibition and event schedule is organised at least 2 years in advance but a global pandemic and national lockdown meant a speedy rethink.

Despite all the tragedy, uncertainty and difficulties, lockdown has brought its positives. Hidden treasures from our stores have been released from quarantine to grace our gallery walls. Reinterpreted through a lockdown lens, you may see these works in a different light.

This is a selected edit of the exhibition which features 87 works. We hope to welcome visitors back soon.

Artists featured in this Curation: Charles Pears (1873–1958), William Lee-Hankey (1869–1952), Henry Marvell Carr (1894–1970), Bohdan von Kleczynski (1851–1916), Elwin Hawthorne (1905–1954), Claude Harrison (1922–2009), Samuel John Lamorna Birch (1869–1955), Eustace Pain Elliott Nash (1886–1969), Leopold Schmutzler (1864–1941), William Bruce Ellis Ranken (1881–1941), and 13 more See all

23 artworks

Storyline Album Showcase

Portraits. The Facetime of their Day

Charles found it impossible to smoke his pipe with a mask on. He has decided to spend the rest of lockdown on his boat.
Self Portrait 1944–1946
Charles Pears (1873–1958)
Oil on canvas
H 61.5 x W 51 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

© the artist's estate. Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Portraits. The Facetime of their Day

Hats, the new essential fashion item for WhatsApp.
Piccadilly Flower Seller c.1900
William Lee-Hankey (1869–1952)
Oil on canvas
H 60 x W 44.5 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Foreign Holidays. Escape to Far Flung Lands Without the Need to Quarantine

No pasta and wine by the River Tiber until the travel corridor re-opens.
View in Rome, Italy 1944–1945
Henry Marvell Carr (1894–1970)
Oil on canvas
H 51 x W 91 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Foreign Holidays. Escape to Far Flung Lands Without the Need to Quarantine

That adventure sledding trip to the Urals will have to wait I am afraid.
Russian Steppes 1883
Bohdan von Kleczynski (1851–1916)
Oil on canvas
H 71.5 x W 117.5 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Staycationing. Take Inspiration from Our Great British Bucket List

A must for anyone visiting every lighthouse in the UK.
North Foreland Lighthouse, Broadstairs, Kent 1929–1931
Elwin Hawthorne (1905–1954)
Oil on canvas
H 46 x W 51.3 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Staycationing. Take Inspiration from Our Great British Bucket List

No aspiring glamper should be without his pyjamas.
The Camper 1950s
Claude Harrison (1922–2009)
Oil on board
H 94 x W 69.3 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

© the artist's estate. Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Staycationing. Take Inspiration from Our Great British Bucket List

Time for some wild bathing!
The Quarry Pool
Samuel John Lamorna Birch (1869–1955)
Oil on canvas
H 51 x W 61.5 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Pleasure & Leisure. Longing for a Carefree Life

Are you looking forward to next year's Panto Season when all of this will be... behind you?
Pantomime People 1933–1934
Eustace Pain Elliott Nash (1886–1969)
Watercolour on paper
H 39 x W 32.5 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

© the artist's estate. Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Pleasure & Leisure. Longing for a Carefree Life

Dancing the gavotte is completely incompatible with Tier 3 restrictions.
The Minuet 1900
Leopold Schmutzler (1864–1941)
Oil on canvas
H 86 x W 120.5 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Home Schooling. Education, Education, Education… at the Kitchen Table

Even the Star of the Week cup, could not persuade her to complete another minute of home schooling.
'The Open Window', These Are My Jewels 1937
William Bruce Ellis Ranken (1881–1941)
Oil on canvas
H 140 x W 182 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Home Schooling. Education, Education, Education… at the Kitchen Table

In her prime, but six weeks home schooling had taken its toll.
Granny c.1884
Richard Quick (1860–1939)
Oil on canvas
H 44.8 x W 36 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
The Great Outdoors. Dorset’s Beauty Spots Have Never Looked So Quiet

Not a cruise ship to be seen.
The Needles, Isle of Wight
Norman Wilkinson (1878–1971)
Oil on canvas
H 50 x W 75 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

© Norman Wilkinson Estate. All rights reserved, DACS 2025. Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
The Great Outdoors. Dorset’s Beauty Spots Have Never Looked So Quiet

Forget about social distancing, Miss Chaseley was never going to share her bench anyway.
Miss Chaseley on the Undercliff 1927
Maxwell Ashby Armfield (1881–1972)
Tempera on paper
H 48.8 x W 98.5 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Working from Home. Yet Another Day at the (Home) Office

Ah, March 2020, when we still cared how neat and tidy our work space was. When wore trousers for our Skype meetings and cared what people thought.
The Engraver 1938
Charles Sigrist (1883–1966)
Oil on board
H 60 x W 45.8 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

© the copyright holder. Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Working from Home. Yet Another Day at the (Home) Office

Some people style their home office to reflect on them when they step away from the webcam. Others don't.
Fingerprints 1953
Charles Spencelayh (1865–1958)
Oil on canvas
H 43.2 x W 53.4 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

© Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum. Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Food & Drink. Eat Out to Help Out

After five days of self isolation they had run out of interesting topics of conversation.
Tea in the Conservatory (Near Neighbours) 1892
Henry 'Harry' Edward John Browne (1859–1917)
Oil on canvas
H 92 x W 122.5 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Food & Drink. Eat Out to Help Out

A dinner party before the Rule of 6.
Banqueting Scene
Pieter Jacob Horemans (1700–1776) (attributed to)
Oil on canvas
H 53 x W 59 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Food & Drink. Eat Out to Help Out

Where is my online supermarket delivery order of toilet roll, eggs and flour?
The Kitchen 1927
Isabel Codrington (1874–1943)
Oil on canvas
H 100.5 x W 67.2 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Zoom. Turn your mic on!

The first work Microsoft Teams meeting wasn’t going very well
Four Dreamers
Michael Cullimore (1936–2021)
Oil on canvas
H 51 x W 60.5 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

© the artist's estate. Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Lockdown Glamour. Staying In is the New Going Out

Eileen was dressed to impressed for bin day.
Eileen
Howard Somerville (1873–1952)
Oil on canvas
H 128.4 x W 103 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Lockdown Glamour. Staying In is the New Going Out

Hairdressers, the 5th Emergency Service.
An Officer of the English Civil War
Peter Lely (1618–1680) (attributed to)
Oil on canvas
H 72 x W 61 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Hometime Hobbies. Get Creative in Quarantine

Where’s my Lute Playing for Beginners book?
'Then to her listening ear responsive chords came familiar, sweet and low' 1881
Edwin Long (1829–1891)
Oil on canvas
H 87.5 x W 105 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Hometime Hobbies. Get Creative in Quarantine

Eat your heart out Alan Titchmarsh.
A Country Garden 1892
Thomas James Lloyd (1849–1910)
Oil on canvas
H 59.7 x W 90 cm
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Image credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum