The newly conserved 130-year-old watercolour painting by artist and archaeologist, Howard Carter is to go on temporary display in the north for the first time at Bolton Museum.
It is on loan from the Egypt Exploration Society in London.
The watercolour painting consists of a scene from the Chapel of Thutmose I, in the temple of female pharaoh, Hatshepsut.
It will go on display from Saturday 1 March 2025 in the Bolton’s Egypt galleries as part of the new exhibition “In the Temple of the Female Pharaoh: Howard Carter and Hatshepsut”.
The watercolour, measuring 1.5 metres square, is the largest surviving painting made by Howard Carter.
Howard Carter painted it at the age of 19 in March 1894 when he worked as a ‘tracer’, an artist that recorded wall scenes for archaeologists.
This is the first time the painting has been on display in the North of England.
The exhibition will also display other images produced by Howard Carter from the collections of The Griffith Institute in Oxford, The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Egypt Exploration Society in London.
Objects from Hatshepsut’s temple, excavated by the Egypt Exploration Society in the late 1800s and early 1900s, from Bolton Museum’s own collections, will be displayed in the exhibition alongside the paintings.
Bolton Museum has also worked with students from the University of Greater Manchester (formerly University of Bolton) to recreate a 3-metre-tall granite statue of Hatshepsut from her temple at Deir el-Bahari, Egypt, which will also be displayed in the exhibition.
It coincides with the recent discovery of the tomb of Thutmose II, stepbrother and husband of Hatshepsut, that was announced on Tuesday 18 February 2025 and is the first ancient Egyptian royal tomb to be discovered in the Vallery of the Kings since Howard Carter found Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.
The new exhibition comes in Bolton’s year as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2024.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub said:
“Bolton owes its world-famous Egyptology collection to the work of the Egypt Exploration Society.
“Today, the museum works as closely with the society as it did 140 years ago.
“The museum is honoured that the Egypt Exploration Society has granted this loan of such a rare and important painting, and we are delighted to be able to display it throughout 2025 as part of this new exhibition in the Bolton’s Egypt galleries.
“Howard Carter is one of the most famous names in Egyptology, but few know he was such an amazing artist before becoming an archaeologist, and even fewer know the connections with Bolton’s own collection.
“We are excited to be able to bring this story to the people of the North West here in Bolton and to continue the museum’s reputation for excellence in Egyptology.”
Dr. Carl Graves, Director of the Egypt Exploration Society, said:
“It is a great pleasure to continue our partnership with Bolton Museum by loaning this unique artwork from our collections.”
“This painting is the largest and finest example of Howard Carter’s work as a skilled archaeological ‘tracer’ during his early career working with the Egypt Exploration Society.”
“Seeing it contextualised with material from Bolton’s important collections and alongside the history of the female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, allows us to explore Egypt’s history in new and innovative ways.”
Dr Stephanie Boonstra, Curator at the Egypt Exploration Society, added:
“We are very pleased that this watercolour from the Society’s collections, the largest Howard Carter painting known, has pride of place in Bolton’s latest Egyptological exhibition.”
“This exhibition, which highlights the life and legacy of the powerful female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, showcases Carter’s paintings alongside Bolton’s excellent collection of artefacts that were excavated by the Society in the late 1800s to early 1900s.”
“The Egypt Exploration Society has had a special relationship with Bolton since the founding of the Society in 1882 and it is very gratifying to see that relationship continue to grow.”
Bolton’s Egypt will also be hosting events associated with Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day:
“The Earl and the Pharaoh: From the Real Downton Abbey to the Discovery of Tutankhamun”
A talk by the Countess of Carnarvon.
Friday 7 March, 10.30am.
Bolton Library Basement Lecture Theatre.
£5 adults, £3 children.
Booking essential through the museum shop in-person or by phone 01204 332211 or Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-earl-and-the-pharaoh-a-talk-by-the-countess-of-carnarvon-tickets-1122161578489
Bolton’s Egypt Winter Study Day “Queens of Ancient Egypt”
Saturday 8 (sold out) and Saturday 29 March.
10.30am – 7pm.
£40 for full day, £5 for just the morning lecture.
Booking essential through the museum shop in-person or by phone 01204 332211 or Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/boltons-egypt-winter-study-day-queens-of-ancient-egypt-tickets-1107062807659
The Queens Series - Free Talks
Join our Curator of Egyptology, Ian Trumble, as he takes you on a six-part journey through some of the most famous women in ancient history: the Queens of Egypt. Each talk stands alone, so don’t worry if you can’t make them all!
1pm - 1.30pm.
Bolton Library Basement Lecture Theatre.
25 February - Old Kingdom Royal Women
25 March - Sobekneferu - First Female King
22 April - Hatshepsut - Daughter of Amun
20 May - Nefertiti - Queen or Pharaoh?
17 June - Cleopatra - Egypt’s Last Queen
Free. No need to book.
Hatshepsut Exhibition Tours
Join our Curator of Egyptology, Ian Trumble, as he takes you on a tour of the temporary exhibition ‘In the Temple of the Female Pharaoh: Howard Carter and Hatshepsut’. Suitable for all ages.
11am and 2pm.
Meet in the Museum Foyer, 1st Floor.
On Wednesdays: 5 March, 2 April, 7 May, 4 June.
Free, no need to book.
For more information about this event, contact Ian Trumble, Curator of Archaeology, Egyptology and World Cultures at Bolton Library and Museum: ian.trumble@bolton.gov.uk.