MEMPHIS, TN.- The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art presents Memphis Collects: The Glory of Georgian England, through January 16, 2005. The Glory of Georgian England is an engaging exhibition of English decorative arts and prints made between 1700 and 1840. Prints by artists such as Hogarth, Rowlandson, and Gillray will present an amusing satire of the society and politics of the period.

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and the Decorative Arts Trust organized Memphis Collects: The Glory of Georgian England. Drawn from private and public collections in Memphis as well as the Brooks’ own collection, this impressive exhibition includes more than 150 objects. Providing an engaging look at the culture, society, and politics of the period between 1700 and 1840, The Glory of Georgian England illuminates the time of England’s rise to a dominant position in the Atlantic world.

Both works of decorative and fine art will be included. Furniture, silver, ceramics, glass, and textiles will be presented alongside portraits by such luminaries as Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds, and George Romney, and caricatures satirizing English life by James Gillray, William Hogarth, and Thomas Rowlandson. DAT members Bob Brown and Tom Lee are co-curators of the show. Lee states, “This broad exhibition builds on the strength of the Brooks’ decorative arts collection, and will demonstrate the importance of these objects in understanding the diversity and creativity of England during this critical era.”

A number of programs and other events will compliment the exhibition. These include an Opening Gala, guided tours, and a symposium concentrating on the decorative arts. The keynote speaker of the symposium will be Graham Child, formerly head of the English furniture department at Sotheby’s in London and author of an important book on mirrors. The symposium will offer special emphasis on Chinese porcelain, furniture, and Georgian silver.

Founded in 1980, the Decorative Arts Trust is a support group of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and has made significant contributions to the Museum’s collection. The Brooks is located in Overton Park at 1934 Poplar Avenue, adjacent to the Memphis Zoo. The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.