The city of Bath has been a creative muse for centuries. It has attracted authors, poets, artists, musicians and in more recent times the city has been captured on film.

Jane Austen immortalised the city in two of her novels - Persuasion and Northanger Abbey – and Bath is often used as a backdrop in film and television versions of her stories, often playing itself, but also standing in to represent other Georgian and Regency cities.

Vanity Fair starring Reese Witherspoon, The Duchess starring Keira Knightley and Les Miserables starring Russell Crowe – all feature Bath locations.

Bath also played a starring role in the recent and hugely successful Netflix series Bridgerton, with locations dotted around the city, from the Royal Crescent to Beaufort Square. Set in a fictional 18th century London, the show was filmed in and around Bath and series 2, 3 and 4 have already been commissioned.

But go back in time and there are many other examples of Bath's hot waters, beautiful architecture and stunning landscapes being the inspiration for artists. Written in the 8th century, it is believed that the ancient poem 'The Ruin', is about Bath:

'The stone buildings stood, a stream threw up heat in wide surge; the wall enclosed all in its bright bosom, where the baths were, hot in the heart.'

Samuel Pepys recorded his visit to the baths in his famed 17th century diary and a couple of centuries later Charles Dickens wrote the Pickwick Papers while lodging in Bath, in which he satirised everyday life in the city and described the main character Mr Pickwick's commitment to 'taking the waters':
'He drank a quarter of a pint before breakfast, and then walked up a hill; and another quarter of a pint after breakfast, and then walked down a hill.'

As a young man seeking his fortune, Thomas Gainsborough arrived in Bath in 1759 and made his name painting portraits of the rich and famous, including royalty. Examples of his work can be found in both the Holburne Museum and the Victoria Art Gallery which also contains work by post-impressionist Walter Sickert.

One of the most beautiful views of the city is from the nearby iron age hill fortress, Little Solsbury Hill. Local singer-songwriter, former member of Genesis, co-founder of WOMAD and humanitarian activist Peter Gabriel penned one of his most famous songs about it: 'Climbing up on Solsbury Hill, I could see the city light, wind was blowing, time stood still…'

Bath may have been captured as a moment in time in many works of art, its history immortalised, but it is also a constantly evolving city.