Norwich museum’s 19th century Noah’s Ark inspires artist’s latest work

The 19th century Noah's Ark in the toy room at Stranger's Hall which inspired Vanessa Burroughes' artwork. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

Ms Burroughes, from Stratton Strawless, has created a colourful collection of collaged screenprints based on the 19th century Noah's Ark and its vast collection of pairs of animals on display at Strangers' Hall in Charing Cross.

Ms Burroughes, 57, said it was a trip to the museum with her four-year-old granddaughter, Elizabeth, which first sparked her imagination to create the work.

'We came to Strangers' Hall to have a look around and we saw the Noah's Ark and thought it was lovely,' she said, adding that she returned to take photographs and to do drawings of the ark and the long line of animals queued up two-by-two.

'I think I chose the ones with the most endearing faces,' she said, when asked how she picked the animals to feature in her screenprints.

Artist Vanessa Burroughes with her artwork inspired by the 19th century Noah's Ark in the toy room at Stranger's Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

'Once you start to look at and draw the different creatures, you see they all have their own characters. They are quite humorous and fun. I especially like the giraffes.'

Ms Burroughes has created five different screenprints by using different colours and patterns, including maps of the city and sheets of music.

Bethan Holdridge, learning and curatorial assistant at Norfolk Museums Service, said it was great to see one of Strangers' Hall's exhibits inspire Ms Burroughes' work.

'The Noah's Ark is one of our most popular exhibits,' she said.

The animals with the 19th century Noah's Ark in the toy room at Stranger's Hall which inspired Vanessa Burroughes' artwork. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

'It's often the one people remember from when they were little, and you often see children glued to the window looking at all the different animals.'

About the history of Noah's Ark toys, which are based on the Biblical story in which God instructs Noah to build an ark and spares Noah, his family, and a pair of each of the world's animals from an all-engulfing flood, she said: 'Often toys connected to religious stories were the only toys children could play with on a Sunday.'

Ms Burroughes' Noah's Ark prints will be on display at Norwich Print Fair at St Margarets Church Gallery, in St Benedict's Street, from September 4 to 16. For more about the fair, visit www.norwichprintfair.co.ukMs Burroughes plans to make cards of the prints which may potentially be sold at the museum.

The animals with the 19th century Noah's Ark in the toy room at Stranger's Hall which inspired Vanessa Burroughes' artwork. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The animals with the 19th century Noah's Ark in the toy room at Stranger's Hall which inspired Vanessa Burroughes' artwork. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The animals with the 19th century Noah's Ark in the toy room at Stranger's Hall which inspired Vanessa Burroughes' artwork. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)