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07:00 - 12-May-2008
And her standing, celebrated by some, scorned by others, sees this notorious outlaw featured in a new exhibition at the Ferens Art Gallery.
A large canvas of the 19th century American gunslinger – painted by the 20th-century feminist artist Pat Douthwaite – is one of the works in a new exhibition, Heroes And Villains.
Kirsten Simister, keeper of art, said: “Belle Starr was quite notorious and was known for her great love of fashion – apparently she used the money she got to buy herself fancy clothes from Paris. Eventually, the story goes, she was hung for her crimes.
“While she didn't have a very happy ending, I think she probably had quite a good life.”
Drawn from the Ferens' permanent collection and filling two rooms at this city centre gallery, the exhibition ranges from 17th-century paintings to 20th-century photographs and sculptures.
Kirsten admits it was “easier to find celebrities than villains” for the exhibition, but alongside the Hull-born heroes – including a sculpture by Siegfrid Charoux of flying ace Amy Johnson – are some more sinister paintings.
In Benjamin West's Salome With The Head Of John The Baptist (1763), the Biblical story is rendered in gruesome detail – with the pasty-looking head laid out on a platter.
And in John Keane's Fairytale Of New York (1992) the woes of a housewife – bent double under the weight of a shopping basket – shows her bound-up by duty.
“The woman seems to be in bondage to her husband, who is holding on to her with a rope,” said Kirsten.
“She seems weighed down by the burdens of life and he plays a part in that.”
Heroes And Villains is at Ferens Art Gallery, Queen Victoria Square, Hull. From now until Sunday, August 31. Opening times, Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, 1.30pm-4.30pm. Admission is free. Call (01482) 300300.
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Ferens' keeper of art, Kirsten Simister, with the painting of American outlaw, Belle Starr
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