WHITEHAVEN’S Beacon Museum is to host another priceless work of art.

Following paintings from Rembrandt and Chardin, visitors will now be able to see Verrocchio’s Tobias and the Angel when it is hosted as part of the National Gallery’s Masterpiece tour in March.

The oil painting from the renowned 15th century master shows the archangel Raphael guiding Tobias and his dog through the countryside, to collect a debt owed to his blind father, Tobit. Tobias carries a gutted fish, while Raphael shows him a box containing its organs – ingredients to cure Tobit’s blindness.

Copeland’s Customer and Visitor Experience Manager, Heather Holmes, said: “We are very excited to host a third masterpiece here at The Beacon. And it’s fantastic that, once again, volunteers will get the chance to be a part of the project.

It’s such a rewarding role, and Tobias and  the Angel is a very special piece. Such a renowned painting does of course require additional invigilators, so our volunteers will be an enormous help.

“We’d like people to volunteer for a number of three-hour shifts during the exhibition, which runs from March 10 until June 4. Volunteers might also be stationed around the rest of the four-storey building, depending on where they are needed.”

Apart from being physically present in the gallery, helpers could find themselves welcoming visitors, providing information about the artwork, answering questions and gathering feedback from visitors.

Additional responsibilities could include:

  • Monitoring the gallery to make sure the artwork is safe and secure.
  • Helping maintain a tidy and well-presented gallery.
  • Making sure no-one eats, drinks or takes photographs in the gallery.

The role can be seated much of the time and does not require great physical fitness. All training will be provided.

Anyone interested in the role should contact the Beacon Museum’s Volunteer Co-ordinator, Andrew McCourt, on 01946 592302, or at andrew.mccourt@copeland.gov.uk.

Click here to see an image of Tobias and the Angel: 
https://dmscdn.vuelio.co.uk/publicitem/38d63573-61f9-4c73-aa0d-0f2907ea9bb0