The Scarborough Art Gallery makes an interesting visit for those, like Victorian artist William Etty, who appreciate the beauty of ladies without much on. Such as in his Judgement of Paris work hanging there whereby the coveted golden apple inscribed “To the Fairest” is given by Paris to a lovely, svelte, if rather smug Aphrodite, who looks as if she knew she was always going to win over her more curvy rivals. Complementing this is the Rose of Youth, a large and more modern work, recently restored, and by Herietta Roe featuring a flame-haired, teenage. pre-raphaelite temptress seated naked on a throne with a headband of roses and with the floor strewn with pink oleander flowers, actually toxic and, sobering thought, a symbol of death for other artists.

Moving through there are some excellent examples of local views by Yorkshire artist John Atkinson Grimshaw, who painted moonlight and night scenes beautifully and whose 1886 work, The Burning of the Spa Saloon contrasts the fierce red flames from the conflagration at Scarborough Spa with the peaceful pale yellow moonlight in the sky, and reflected on the calm sea. Perhaps every Scarborough delegate should take home a copy, and reflect that the figures shown on the cliff path above the Spa are said to be Grimshaw’s own wife and two children watching the blaze. More gentle, and just as evocative is Grimshaw’s 1877 Scarborough Lights, depicting the peaceful harbour at dusk with the town behind and the huge bulk of the Grand Hotel overlooking, and there are some fine depictions of wrecks in Scarborough harbour by Robert Roe, some also featuring the Grand.

The gallery has event spaces for 60 seated or 100 for a reception and is part of the Scarborough Museums Trust, which includes the nearby Rotunda Museum with similar capacities.

Tel 01723 384509 www.scarboroughmuseumstrust.com