Exeter, a city in southwest England, will be the focus of a new exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum in New York beginning March 6. More specifically, it focuses on Hamlyn House, a late medieval tavern that was destroyed in the mid-19th century. It belonged to wealthy draper Henry Hamlyn, who was twice mayor of the city. Unique sculptures adorned the public house, taking such forms as jesters, musicians, and quarreling couples. Hamlyn House serves as the backdrop for an exhibition that explores the relationship between art and identity in the Middle Ages. On view is Rich Man, Poor Man: Art, Class, and Commerce in a Late Medieval Town from March 6 through August 20 at the Met Cloisters in New York.
In addition to rare sculptures from the tavern, more than 50 exhibits, including decorative arts objects, textiles, and prints, introduce visitors to everyday life in the Middle Ages and examine the role of artworks for different social classes. The Hamlyn House sculptures have been in the Metropolitan Museum since the 1970s. Only in recent years have they been analyzed in depth by scholars, revealing remarkable new insights.
