The husband and wife artists Stephen Bone and Mary Adshead were great friends of George and Babbie Blomfield, who lived in Sheffield. This friendship led to Stanley Spencer’s remarkable Zacharias and Elizabeth being co-owned by the city. When Mary Adshead sold the painting, it was on the condition that it could be enjoyed by the people of Sheffield, home of her very dear friends.
Framed in Friendship tells their story, and also shows how other relationships and links with Sheffield have led to valuable contributions to the city’s art collection over the years. It includes drawings, paintings and letters by Stephen, Mary and Babbie, and also works by Henry Tonks, Sir William Rothenstein and his granddaughter Anne Rothenstein.