RNHRD History and Heritage
An impressive collection of fifteen 18th Century portraits are owned by The Min and include key figures of Bath who were also involved in the founding of the Mineral Water Hospital, including Ralph Allen, Beau Nash and the founding doctor and physician of the hospital Dr Oliver and Mr Peirce.
The painting titled ‘Dr Oliver and Mr Peirce, Physician and Surgeon Examining Patients Afflicted with Paralysis , Rheumatism and Leprosy by W.T. Hoare is listed in the 1761 Society of Artists exhibition catalogue as ‘A picture intended to be given to the Mineral Water Hospital’. (Mr Peirce is the figure on the left in brown and Dr Oliver in red in the foreground.)
On July 28th 1762, at the weekly meeting at the Royal Mineral Water Hospital which the artist William Hoare attended, it was ‘Ordered that the thanks of the General Court be sent to William Hoare for the elegant Picture he presented to this Hospital’. In his twenty years as Hospital Visitor, Hoare would have had ample opportunity to study disease at close quarters and it is more than probable that he was able to use inmates of the hospital as models.
Three portraits were removed from the Min early to receive extensive treatment by our conservator, Sarah Cove. The conservator discovered the frames and structures to be in a very poor state and she had to carry out extensive restoration as well as cleaning off old varnish, patchy re-touching and then re-varnishing the whole canvas; they now look fantastic and are future proofed.
THE MIN: ARTS AND HERITAGE
MOVING ON
AATH are working with Bath Medical Museum (BMM) who plan to set up a dedicated museum within Bath that can house the Min’s collection of medical artefacts and continue to grow.
There will be a cabinet of curiosities on display in the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre containing a small selection of fascinating artefacts and information about their history.
Artefacts from the Min’s Collection
Bath War Hospital
There will also be information panels on the Bath War Hospital on display, containing fascinating postcards, stories and imagery.
In January 2016 we embarked on a project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Bath War Hospital. As part of this project we have established www.bathwarhospital.org to record the story of the Bath War Hospital, and we hope that this will provide a valuable resource for anyone who wishes to learn more about the City of Bath during WW1, or about day to day life in a WW1 hospital.
Susan Brown
Recovery and Relaxation: Light Box artworks
Andy Goodman
A round of applause
Climbing up on Solisbury Hill
Andy Goodman will show a series of large framed prints in the RNHRD and Therapies centre relating to rehab: aimed to be sensitive, motivational and also have a touch of humour. The works will be installed in corridors and treatment rooms on the ground floor, and first floor of the Therapies building, they will also aid wayfinding.
Creative Art Workshops at the RNHRD with Edwina Bridgeman
Artist, Edwina Bridgeman has been doing a series of workshops with residential patients and staff to create an art work for Bernard Ireland House, residential accommodation for RNHRD patients and the new Centre. This project has been funded by RNHRD Charitable Funds and Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases (BIRD).
“Because of the Mins association with water we have looked at the routes patients and staff would have taken had they travelled to Bath via waterways. Patients arrive from all over the country and plotting routes on the map has been a great starting point. I supplied a large sheet of calico on which to start. We have cut stencils, sprayed fabric paint, stitched, made felt, painted and printed all around the theme of water and water ways.
Working with both staff and patients has been a real joy. The project is well underway and each week we are excited to see the progress made.” Edwina Bridgeman
Feedback from Participants
‘Nobody talked about pain. We all just enjoyed what we were doing’
‘It was a sense of calm and stillness I haven’t experienced in many years’
‘I felt part of something’
