Titled Dürer to Goya: Old Master Prints at Winchester, the free exhibition explores the evolution of printmaking from 1500 to 1800 through works by artists including Albrecht Dürer, Rubens and Francisco de Goya.
The exhibition was curated by pupils in their final year at the school and highlights prints produced through techniques such as woodcut, engraving and etching.
Dr Richard Foster, Keeper of Collections at Winchester College, said: “We are delighted to welcome visitors to this exhibition, which not only celebrates the richness of our growing print collection but also reflects the enthusiasm, curiosity and scholarship of our pupils.
“Printmaking played a crucial role in shaping visual culture, and it is a pleasure to be able to share these remarkable works freely with the wider public.”
The exhibition aims to chart the development of printmaking since its emergence in Europe in the fifteenth century.
It uses works by Dürer, Rubens and Goya as printmaking was an important part of their artistic practice as some of the most influential figures in western art.
As well as exploring artistic techniques, the exhibition offers insight into the role of printmaking in shaping visual culture.
The school’s Treasury museum, where the exhibition is being held, showcases Winchester College’s broad collections of art and archaeology.
Its permanent displays span artefacts from the ancient world and medieval art to Chinese ceramics, paintings and watercolours, as well as an important collection of early English silver.
Most of the prints on display have been recently acquired by Winchester College through the endowment of John Sparrow (1906–1992), an academic, barrister, book collecter and Warden of All Souls College, Oxford, alongside the support from the Friends of Winchester College.
Dürer to Goya: Old Master Prints at Winchester is open daily from 2–4pm and runs until Wednesday April 15.
Admission is free and no pre-booking is required.
By Lucy Blackmur
