News and Activities from Turner’s House, and the Friends of Turner’s House

We aim to celebrate J.M.W. Turner’s artistic achievement through encouraging visitors to discover the house he designed and built, and the Thames landscape which inspired him. Through conserving and interpreting Turner’s House, we aim to build a deeper engagement with Turner as an artist.

 

 

Message from the House Director

Turner’s House is over halfway through the open season and we continue to welcome visitors to the house both locally and internationally. There is much to see at the house at present, including our two fabulous pieces of Turner inspired sculpture (more below), a Turner/Scott themed ‘Miniature Lands of Myth and Memory’ exhibition and a very picturesque flowering garden!  The exhibition has just 8 weeks left so don’t miss out, do come visit and bring friends and family too.. We are also looking forward to Open House weekend on Saturday 21st and 22nd September before closing between 23rd September and the 4th October in order to carry out essential upgrades in preparation of receiving our first original Turner artworks. We do aim to open 2020 with an exhibition of these wonderful works.  More details to follow later in the year.

We continue to run our popular Connoisseur tours where groups can be arranged to visit the house before it opens to the general public at noon. The Connoisseur groups are taken around by house experts and is an excellent way to learn in more depth about Turner, the house, its contents and acclaimed restoration. If you would like more information about Connoisseur tours, please email me athousedirector@turnershouse.org.

 

New for Summer 2019!

 

Royal Academy graduate designs Turner themed sculpture now on show at Turner’s House and Garden

Two new sculptures by Turner’s House artist in residence Nicky Carvell were unveiled on Sunday 21^st July, inspired by the great 19^th century artist and the house he designed for himself and his father in Twickenham. Around 35 guests gathered on a fine sunny day to see the unveiling.  Eliza Bonham Carter, Head of Schools at the Royal Academy unveiled the Moon Dial and congratulated Nicky saying; “We are incredibly thankful to the National Heritage Lottery Fund and to the trustees and staff at Turner’s House for reconnecting us and the Royal Academy school and contemporary artists with Turner’s House through Nicky. It has also allowed Nicky to rethink things that were already important to her work like colour, astronomy and light and review Turner’s work with contemporary materials and with a contemporary eye. This is her immediate response but thanks to the support she has had here, this experience will continue to influence her future work.”

The colourful and inventive sculptures will be on display until mid-September.

 

Civic Pride Award for Turner’s House

Turner’s House Trust are delighted to have received a Civic Pride Award from Richmond Council. This award is essential for vital upgrades to the house  to allow the property to receive loans from major institutions. With a bursary also gratefully received from the Ferryman scheme,this will support our exhibition plans for 2020.

Cllr John Coombs, Richmond Council’s spokesperson for Culture said:
‘The connection this borough has with J.M.W. Turner is something to be celebrated, it’s an iconic part of our artistic heritage. I am therefore delighted the Council has been able to support this project and I look forward to seeing some of his works on display in Turner’s House in the very near future.’

 

Miniature Lands Exhibition runs until Sunday 22nd September

Our exhibition ‘Miniature Lands of Myth and Legend’ opened on February 1st and has been a great success. The exhibition focuses on J.M.W. Turner as a book illustrator and includes 23 engravings associated with Sir Walter Scott’s Poetical Works and The Life of Napoleon Buonaparte. Many visitors have commented on the vibrant use of yellow in the room and inquired about its name. It is called ‘Wild Canary’ and is available from Papers and Paints.  An exhibition brochure is also included in admission.

 

Gardens in bloom at Turner’s House

Two years after the garden at Turner’s House was redesigned and replanted, this summer the garden is awash with different colours, smells (and bees) and is looking vibrant and radiant! Originally two acres in size, the garden is today much smaller but all the more intimate and picturesque for it. Turner’s House volunteer gardeners have done a marvellous job, coming to the garden every week on a Wednesday to create this lovely space, perfect for relaxation and contemplation. The garden is planted with many different types of flowers, all of which could be found in a 19th century garden such as at Turner’s House. So pleased are the Trustees with the garden that we have entered the garden in the business category in this year’s ‘Richmond Borough in Bloom” competition. We are hoping for a good result!

 

Upcoming Events at Turner’s House

Life of Napoleon: Biography and Art workshop
2nd August 10am-1pm, drop-in, recommended for ages 5-15yrs:

Printmaking: Telling a story with paper and ink
23rd August 10am-1pm, drop-in, recommended for ages 5-15yrs

Ten Minute lunchtime talk: 1st August , 12.45pm, Archaeology and Turner’s House. Free with paid admission to the house.

 

 

Have you seen the flower projected onto the wall?

One fascinating feature at Turner’s House is the projection of the painted floral motif from the glass laylight onto the upper staircase wall. This takes place as the sun passes over the top of the building at around 2pm at this time of the year.  The laylight is original to the house, as is the floral hand-painted motif in the centre. Similar laylights were used by Turner’s close friend Sir John Soane at nearby Pitzhanger Manor and his house at Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

News and Events from the Friends of Turner’s House

 

 

Friends’ section for the Turner House July 2019 newsletter

Summer Party and AGM

The Friends of Turner’s House held their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 10^th July at York House. At the AGM, it was agreed unanimously that Catherine Parry-Wingfield, outgoing Chair of Trustees, should be honored with the tile of ‘Lifetime President’ of the Friends of Turner’s House  in recognition of her achievements for the restoration of Sandycombe Lodge,
We are fortunate again to have Diana Dunrossil continue as Acting Chair for the forthcoming year but we are urgently in need to fill places on the Friends’ Committee both this year and next. If anyone is interested in playing a rewarding part on this friendly committee, then please contactfriends@turnershouse.org.uk.
The AGM was followed by an enjoyable summer party where a generous donation of a cheque for £1000  was presented  to Turner’s House Trust.

 

Upcoming Events

 

Annual Autumn Lecture
David Bowman, expert art restorer and owner of the ‘Bowman Gallery’ in Richmond, will be giving a talk on the topic of  Gilding. The lecture will be held in the Hyde Room at York House on Wednesday 16^th October. Friends and guests should arrive at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. The lecture is open to everyone and the entrance fee is £1 for Friends and £6 for guests.

Winter Party
The Friends’ winter party will be held again in December. Venue and times will be advertised on the Turner’s House website and in the next newsletter once confirmed.

New Members
We are always seeking new members so please encourage your friends, colleagues and relatives to join us and enjoy the benefits of being a Friend of Turners’ House.  An application form can be found under the ‘Support Us’ section on the Turners House website.

 

August 1, 2019