PLAYS by the influential dramatist Ben Jonson, for sale in North America, have been acquired by the University of Edinburgh.
Experts believe no other editions of Jonson’s works show how they were performed in this age of theatre.
The book was printed in 1640 and features manuscript annotations from the time, such as stage directions, details of props and textual corrections.
An export bar was imposed on the book by the UK Government to give British libraries the chance to acquire it on the condition that they met the purchase price of £48,000.
With support from Friends of Edinburgh University Library, Friends of the National Libraries and John R Murray Trust, the University of Edinburgh has bought the book.
Jonson lived from 1572 until 1637.
Leading Ben Jonson scholar Professor James Loxley, of the University of Edinburgh, has described the acquisition as potentially "the most extraordinary addition” to the University’s collections.
Joseph Marshall, Head of the Centre for Research Collections at the University of Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to purchase this landmark collection of works, and are grateful to our supporters for helping us save this volume of recognised cultural importance.
“Some 400 years ago Jonson famously walked from London to Edinburgh meeting Scottish poets such as William Drummond on his travels. Now this remarkable volume is making the journey north too."
www.ed.ac.uk
THE Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine will unveil an art collection featuring works by artists including FCB Cadell, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Muirhead Bone, Kate Downie and John Bellany in an exhibition opening on 1 June.
‘Maritime Perspectives: Collecting Art of a Seafaring Nation’, which will run until 21 October.
The exhibition will feature more than 100 works gathered for the collection over the last three years through SMMart, a project to create an art collection at the Museum.
The oldest painting is ‘On the Clyde’ painted by James Francis Williams in 1830.
The collection includes oil painting, watercolour, sketching and photography, sculpture and mixed media.
The exhibition will also feature a display of recently acquired works by William Lionel Wyllie RA including ‘The Grand Fleet in the Firth of Forth’ after the Armistice.
It also includes ‘Building a Liner at Greenock’ by Muirhead Bone; ‘Figure of a Shipbuilder’ by Benno Schotz; and ‘The Hole Borer’ by Tom McKendrick and ‘The Dawn Pearl at Port Seton Harbour’ by John Bellany as well as FCB Cadell's ‘The Pier at Cove - Loch Long’.
www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org
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