Themed Tour: Beasts & Best Friends – The Victorian Love of Animals

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is running a themed tour called Beasts & Best Friends – The Victorian Love of Animals on Friday 25 September. It's a guided walk through the gallery that looks at the Victorians' relationship with animals, using pieces from the Russell-Cotes collection to tell the story.

If you've spent any time in the museum, you know how much of the collection is built around the tastes and travels of the Russell-Cotes family. This tour pulls together the animal-themed works from across the house, so rather than wandering through the rooms on your own, you'll be led from one to the next with a specific thread to follow. It's a good way to see things you might otherwise walk right past if you're just browsing the general displays.

The Victorian era is often remembered for its formality, but there was a real, deep-seated affection for animals that ran through the period—from the way pets were kept and painted to the way wildlife was collected and studied. That's what the tour focuses on: the bond between people and animals, and how that showed up in the art and objects the family brought back and kept here. It's a specific slice of the collection, so it works whether you're a regular or someone who hasn't been in for a while.

The tour is on Friday 25 September at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, East Cliff Promenade, Bournemouth, BH1 3AA. You can find more details and booking information on their what's on page at russellcotes.com/whats-on/.