In 1907, Wolverhampton Art Gallery held the largest solo show of work by the pioneering late Victorian artist Evelyn De Morgan, a feat which defied societal expectations of De Morgan’s class and gender to enable her to become one of the most impressive artists of a generation. Well-received within local press, one critic described De Morgan’s works as ‘painted dreams’.

Now, almost 118 years later, Wolverhampton Art Gallery has reimagined this ground-breaking exhibition as Painted Dreams: The Art of Evelyn De Morgan. Highlighting a career that has been largely overshadowed by De Morgan’s male contemporaries, the 2024 exhibition features oil paintings, a plaster cast sculpture, sketches and drawings and newly painted artworks that recreate three of her original paintings lost to fire in 1991.

Painted Dreams showcases De Morgan’s Pre-Raphaelite style and artistic skill through some of her most impressive paintings such as Flora, a life-size painting of the Roman Goddess of Spring, and The Storm Spirits, which imagines thunder, lightning and rain as powerful women.

De Morgan frequently depicted mythological, literary, and fantasy subjects to challenge gender stereotypes and highlight socio-political messages within her work. These messages, some still prevalent today, consider social inequalities, feminism, mental health, the impact of war and De Morgan’s own spiritualist beliefs around life and death.

Three lost works displayed in the 1907 exhibition have been painstakingly recreated by local artist Paul Francis-Walker. Francis-Walker was able to follow De Morgan’s artistic process using the scant documentation that exists in relation to the original paintings and by drawing on the extensive recent research by conservators at the Courtauld Institute of Art.

Painted Dreams is curated by Sarah Hardy, Director of the De Morgan Museum, and Wolverhampton Art Gallery. The exhibition is a partnership between the De Morgan Foundation and Wolverhampton Art Gallery. The Gallery is funded by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation, and City of Wolverhampton Council.

Image: Love’s Passing, 1883, Evelyn De Morgan © Trustees of the De Morgan Foundation

Painted Dreams is accompanied by a programme of public events celebrating the work of Evelyn De Morgan. These include:

Painted Dreams @ Friday Lates - Friday 29 November, 6pm to 9pm
After hours event featuring a new dance work by Flexus Dance Collective developed with emerging artists in response to the exhibition. Keep an eye on our social media for more information.

Evelyn De Morgan Study Day - Saturday 30 November 2024, 10:30am to 4:15pm
Expert talks and tours exploring different aspects of De Morgan’s artistic journey,. A performance by Flexus Dance Collective and a drop-in creative workshop inspired by De Morgan’s drawings, also feature.
Speakers: Sarah Hardy, De Morgan Museum; Dr Serena Trowbridge, Birmingham City University; Helen Bratt-Wyton, Wightwick Manor/ National Trust; Dr Christina Bradstreet, independent art historian; Dr Richenda Roberts, University of Warwick. £7.50 entry. 50% discount for students and recipients of income support.  

Painted Dreams Closing Event - Saturday 8 March 2025
Explore exhibition themes related to International Women’s Day 2025. The full programme will be announced on our social media channels and website.