Library Exhibitions

On the 16 January 2013 a new exhibition opened in the Library at Christ Church...

Although gems are modest in size, gem engraving was a major art in antiquity. From the Renaissance on Greek and Roman intaglios and cameos were collected, observed and copied. Scholars could learn about the appearance of gem subjects through publications, often initiated by their almost obsessive collectors, but also through the expanding production of impressions and casts of gems in a variety of materials.

Much of the music displayed in this exhibition was donated to Christ Church by Henry Aldrich (1648-1710), who was an undergraduate at this college, then a tutor, sub-dean, and finally dean.

Celebrating the completion of the online Catalogue of the Music collection

On Friday 2 November 2012, 10:30am - 5:00pm

Christ Church Blue Boar Lecture Theatre

An exhibition of photographs, books, sketches and other objects, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the boat trip which led to the publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. 

This is the first anatomical atlas to use dozens of engravings superimposed as a series of opening flaps as method of illustration. It is also the first conservation project undertaken by the Oxford Conservation Consortium following Christ Church joining in October 2010.

This exhibition features works from the Special Collections of Christ Church Library. Most of these works are books. Some however are other objects bequeathed to the Library. The criterion which brings all this diverse selection together is the works’ capacity to tell a story beyond that illustrated by their content.

To accompany the performance of Crocodiles in Cream in the Cathedral, this exhibition shows Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) as mathematician and logician, as photographer, poet and story-teller.

Food and drink have always been important at Christ Church. Much to the critical amusement of his enemies, Cardinal Wolsey ensured that the kitchen and the dining hall were the first buildings completed when he first began to build, in 1525, on the site of the old priory. 

Educated at Westminster School under Dr Richard Busby, Henry Aldrich (1648-1710) entered Christ Church in 1662. He never left the College. In 1692, he was also appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.