Between Two Worlds: Vanley Burke and Francis Williams
Two portraits created three centuries apart
Two portraits created three centuries apart
We explored the portraits of two Jamaican gentlemen scholars. Burke's photography and archives, alongside historical artefacts and scientific images shedding new light on the Williams painting, invited reflections on quests for identity.
This display is now closed at V&A South Kensington
Display highlights
-
Francis Williams, the Scholar of Jamaica, unknown artist, about 1745, Jamaica.
-
Boy with flag, Wilfred in Handsworth Park, photograph, by Vanley Burke, 1970, England.
-
Supplementary Education, Wilks Green Infant School, photograph by Vanley Burke, 1975, Handsworth, England
-
Prospect of Lincoln’s Inn, by Johannes Kip, 1720, England
-
Mr Crouch in his greenhouse, photograph, by Vanley Burke, 2022, Leeds, England
-
Mrs Walker and her customers at her hairdressers shop, Rookery Road, photograph, by Vanley Burke, 1979, England
-
Self-portrait, photograph, by Vanley Burke, 2023, Birmingham, England
-
Relief portrait of Matthew Raper, by David Le Marchand, 1720, England. Museum no. A.20-1959
Past events
Features
![](https://assets-cdn.vam.ac.uk/2020/10/09/13/55/11/5625145c-8614-4d1f-a261-7d89dcc84656/320.jpg)
Francis Williams – a portrait of a writer
Explore the portrait of scholar and writer Francis Williams
![](https://assets-cdn.vam.ac.uk/2023/06/08/14/37/10/2d676c2b-c463-4615-8884-d292a053f3dc/320.jpg)
West Indies Calling: Poetry from the radio feature 'Caribbean Voices'
West Indies Calling: Poetry from the radio feature 'Caribbean Voices'
Hear poems broadcast between 1943 and 1958 as part of the BBC's Caribbean Voices programme.
![](https://assets-cdn.vam.ac.uk/2023/07/07/15/52/36/debb53e0-de04-4565-a295-97e4c652110c/320.jpg)
The puzzle of portraits: Francis Williams and Vanley Burke
The puzzle of portraits: Francis Williams and Vanley Burke
Explore two important portraits separated by three centuries
![Man sitting in his greenhouse, surrounded by plants. He is smiling](https://vanda-production-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/2023/05/12/16/13/48/e9c6937f-68a5-4f04-88e8-d7c0a19a286e/1280-Mr-Crouch-in-his-greenhouse-Leeds-2022..jpg)
Windrush 75
A season of events and displays marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush.
African Liberation Day, Handsworth Park, photograph, by Vanley Burke, 1977. © Vanley Burke