The exhibition, opening on Saturday 14 November 2026, will feature Pierre Mignard's 1691 painting, The Marquise de Seignelay, at its centre. This marks Barnsley as one of only four UK venues selected to host the painting as part of the National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, offering local audiences a rare chance to view a world-class artwork.
Complementing the loaned masterpiece, 'Love, Power, Identity' will integrate paintings, ceramics, and glass from Barnsley's own collections. This curated display aims to foster new dialogues between artworks from different periods and styles, exploring how artists have historically represented status, self-image, and identity.
The Cooper Gallery's exhibition development has also benefited from the input of Next Big Thing, Barnsley Museums' youth group, who have helped shape visitor engagement with the exhibition's themes.
“"We're incredibly proud to welcome this remarkable work from the National Gallery to Barnsley. Opportunities like this allow us to bring internationally important art to local audiences and reinforce Barnsley's reputation as a place where culture is accessible to everyone. Love, Power, Identity will create exciting connections between a masterpiece from the national collection and the treasures in our own collections, giving visitors new perspectives on art, history and the stories that shape who we are. We look forward to welcoming people from Barnsley and beyond to experience this exceptional exhibition."
The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour is a collaborative initiative between the National Gallery and museums and galleries nationwide, designed to increase public engagement with the national collection and share the narratives behind significant artworks.
Mignard: Love, Power, Identity will be open at the Cooper Gallery from Saturday 14 November 2026 until Saturday 20 February 2027. Admission to the exhibition is free.
