Exhibition Details
Turner in Teesdale
Sat 13 Dec 08 - Sun 07 Jun 09
An in depth exploration of The Bowes Museum’s watercolours by JMW Turner. This display will feature the recently acquired Bowes Tower, produced to illustrate Sir Walter Scott’s epic poem Rokeby, alongside acquisitons recently obtained by the Museum.
Throughout January and February visitors are invited to join Assistant Keeper of Fine Art, Emma House, for a Gallery Talk about the Museum’s recent acquisition, Turner’s Bowes Tower, which is on show as part of the current display Turner in Teesdale. They can then accompany local art historian Michael Rudd for an afternoon walk to survey the scenery that inspired Turner, one of the finest landscape painters in English History, and explore his sketches and viewpoints.
Summer sketching tours were part of Turner’s annual routine and he first travelled the North of England in 1797, making sketches in Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland. During the 1830s he produced designs to illustrate volumes of poetry by some of his most celebrated contemporaries including Sir Walter Scott, author of the epic poem Rokeby, which is set in the countryside between Rokeby Park and Barnard Castle. Bowes Tower acted as the frontispiece to Volume Nine of Scott’s poetry.
“In this watercolour Turner captures the stunning landscape that so enchanted Scott,” said Ms House.
Her Gallery Talks, which are free, will be held at 11.30am on Tuesdays 6 & 20 January and 3 & 17 February 2009. Mr Rudd’s walks take place on the same dates and participants should meet him at the car park in Bowes village (four miles from the Museum) at 1.00pm for a 3½ mile walk. The wearing of suitable footwear and clothing is advisable. The walks cost £5 for adults or £3 for Friends of The Bowes Museum and booking is required on 01833 690606.
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