Art Gallery

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Explore some of the paintings in the British Optical Association Museum...

Why it is wrong to say Benjamin Franklin 'invented' bifocals. We use a painting of 'The Politician' to begin our exploration of this thorny issue.

A mystery scientific instrument from the Dutch Golden Age depicted in one of the museum's smaller works of art.

A perfect illustration of nose spectacles in use...but for what?

He saw stars...but not with this instrument!

The learned Saint Jerome could never have used spectacles

Deteriorating eyesight was seen as one symbol of human mortality

We look at some mean spectacles

Corrective eyewear could be associated with usury, parsimony and deceit

An artist describes his failing eyesight

This saintly woman literally has four eyes

Three different paintings show the same style of spectacles in use for a hundred years!

The College of Optometrists