Now that's an old master! How care home has transformed its residents into classic works of art
Fund-raising calendars frequently feature ordinary people stripping down to their birthday suits.
But the residents of an Oxford care home have – perhaps more classily – done the opposite and dressed up to pose for photos recreating famous paintings.
Wearing borrowed costumes and using makeshift props, 14 elderly residents volunteered to be in MHA Brookfield's 2022 calendar to raise money for creative activities.
Andrew Reese, 57, who is the cover star in a recreation of a self-portrait by Jan van Eyck, said: 'A tablecloth and some fur was used for my costume. I really enjoyed being a part of this – it was fun.'
Activity co-ordinator Victoria Davidson said the images 'just make you smile', adding: 'We'd seen the idea online and thought it would be a great way of having fun. It will help to raise funds for future activities at the home.'
The pictures were taken by volunteer Rebecca Phillipson, who photoshopped them into the backgrounds of the original paintings.
Describing how residents Win and Bob got their costumes for Grant Wood's American Gothic, Miss Davidson said: 'They are wearing my dad's shirt, my brother-in-law's jacket, my partner's dungarees, my daughter's glasses and an old tabard we found in the cupboard. They loved it.'
Many residents have taken up arts to 'relax and unwind' since arriving at the home, which provides nursing and dementia care for 66, said Miss Davidson.
She added the £12 calendars had been selling 'like hotcakes'.
The recreated paintings include work by Rembrandt van Rijn, Paul Cezanne, Frida Kahlo and Amedeo Modigliani, as well as a portrait of Elizabeth I from the late 1500s.
The residents of an Oxford care home have dressed up to pose for photos recreating famous paintings. Brookfield care home resident Andy is pictured as a self portrait by Jan Van Eyck - next to the original artwork
The recreated paintings include work by Rembrandt van Rijn, Paul Cezanne, Frida Kahlo and Amedeo Modigliani, as well as a portrait of Elizabeth I from the late 1500s. Resident Bill is featured alongside a painting by Reubens
Wearing borrowed costumes and using makeshift props, 14 elderly residents volunteered to be in MHA Brookfield's 2022 calendar to raise money for creative activities
Activity co-ordinator Victoria Davidson said the images 'just make you smile', adding: 'We'd seen the idea online and thought it would be a great way of having fun. It will help to raise funds for future activities at the home.' Resident Amina is pictured alongside a self portrait by Freda Kahlo
Many residents have taken up arts to 'relax and unwind' since arriving at the home, which provides nursing and dementia care for 66, said Miss Davidson. Anica as Young woman with parrot by Frederic Tschaggeny
The recreated paintings include work by Rembrandt van Rijn, Paul Cezanne, Frida Kahlo and Amedeo Modigliani, as well as a portrait of Elizabeth I from the late 1500s
Miss Davidson added the £12 calendars had been selling 'like hotcakes'. Dave poses as Man with pipe by Amedeo Modigliani, next to the original artwork
Barbara as a portrait of Irina Maximovich by Alfred Eberling. MHA Brookfield care home at Little Bury, Greater Leys, has created the calendar for the coming year
Resident Winter as Mary Seacole as painted by Albert Challen. The residents dressed up to try to match famous paintings from years gone by, which include Victorian themed paintings: 'The Virgin in Prayer', 'American Gothic' by Grant Wood and 'Evelyn Elizabeth Tudor'
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