For the last few weeks, the experience of the exhibition has been ever more closely focused: should this object be placed up a bit, or to the left; a comma here, or a semi-colon there? Should we alter this caption? Does this light reflect on the case too much? Truffle-hunting, rather than the parachutist’s overview. It’s been rather like living in a bubble.
But last night, the bubble was popped and it was time to look outwards, which is, after all, what an exhibition should do – engage with the wider world. And it popped in fine style, with readings by RSC actors from many of the documents, such as Milton’s 1644 defence of free speech; a tastefully-lit King’s Library; and, not least, a visit from the Prime Minister.
In his speech Mr Brown made the case for a very British strand of liberty, from Magna Carta to the present day, linking religious toleration to political freedom. During the speeches, which included an introduction from the guest curator, Professor Linda Colley, that freedom was also expressed by a brief verbal intervention by one of the guests, Peter Tatchell. I think some of the crowd wondered for a moment if this was even part of the planned proceedings.
This morning provided another chance to see the exhibition through new eyes, this time during a short visit by members of the Kenyan Ministry of Culture. As well as being curious about the written – or uncodified – nature of the UK constitution, they were struck by the way the past could illuminate the present day search for liberty, even if revealing some challenging contours. Two of the documents they commented on in their whistle-stop tour were Hogarth’s series of election satires, which shows voters being bribed by food and drink; and the accounts of an the election of one 18th-century MP. This records the expenses incurred, from hiring the Town Beadle and laying on music, to the payment of a ‘mob’; the going rate was a guinea, or over a week's wages for a skilled worker.