Fanciful Figures

Have you ever looked at an old painting of a beautiful landscape or a fancy house and wondered why the artist bothered to include miniature depictions of people and animals in the foreground? This exhibition at the John Soane’s Museum will unpick why exactly these little figures matter. ‘Staffage’ – the small human and animal figures in architectural and landscape drawings, which first appeared in the late seventeenth century in Britain have much more meaning than might meet the eye. Through a selection of carefully curated works, this fun exhibition will explore their historical significance and their importance in displaying a window into everyday life from the past.