THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP:
SIR JOHN SOANE AND JMW TURNER
17.00 (GMT) / 12.00 (EST)
WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Dr. Matthew Morgan, Director of Turner's House, Twickenham, and Clare Gough, Director of Sir John Soane's Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, will explore the intertwined history of two important artists' residences. The talk will investigate the close relationship between Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) and his friend and fellow fisherman, the architect Sir John Soane (1753-1837). It looks specifically at Soane's fascination for classical and Renaissance architecture materialised in Pitzhanger Manor and how Soane's architectural style influenced Turner's design for his suburban retreat at Twickenham, helping to define its appearance and implied associations.
Turner was a guest at Pitzhanger and Soane, in turn, influenced Turner's designs for his country house, Sandycombe Lodge. The two men bonded over their fascination with light, the role of the classics in art and their love of fishing.
Book now to be part of the conversation!
Dr Matthew Morgan is Museum Director of Turner's House in Twickenham and is an Associate Lecturer at Birkbeck, University of London, from where he also received his PhD in Museum Studies. He has worked in the heritage sector for 10 years, including at the Royal Collection and the National Gallery. Prior to that he was a Director at Christie's.
Clare Gough is Director of Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, architect Sir John Soane's 'country' house in Ealing, West London and its adjacent contemporary gallery. Clare led Pitzhanger through a major conservation project to restore the house to Soane's innovative design and upgrade the gallery so it now stages exhibitions with artists ranging from Anish Kapoor to Es Devlin and Rana Begum. Clare's career spans the arts and commercial sectors. She is a Trustee of Art Fund and was previously a Trustee of the Museum of the Home, Director of Communications at the National Gallery, and New Media Director at National Gallery Co. Ltd, before setting up an arts consultancy working with the V&A and other arts institutions.
About Turner's House and Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery
Turner's House in Twickenham opened to the public in 2017. The House offers a unique insight into the life and works of Britain's greatest landscape painter, JMW Turner.
Designed by Turner and completed in 1813, the house was a quiet retreat, away from the pressures of the London art world, to which he would invite friends and indulge in his passion for fishing.
As Turner was his own architect, the house reveals something of his ideal for living and is as idiosyncratic and unique as any of Turner's paintings. It has been restored to create the quiet, domestic space that Turner would have known and offers a rare opportunity to experience the private life of this great artist.
The House has hosted a number of critically acclaimed exhibitions that have revealed Turner's life and art. They also work closely with community organisations offering programmes to alleviate mental and physical ill health.
To learn more, please visit: https://turnershouse.org/.
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery stands as a living testament to the visionary genius of Sir John Soane (1753-1837), one of Britain's most influential architects. Acquired by Soane in 1800, the Grade-I listed manor was transformed into his idyllic country estate, showcasing his mastery of neoclassical design and innovative use of natural light.
Today, Pitzhanger Manor and its accompanying contemporary gallery overlook the picturesque Walpole Park. Pitzhanger celebrates Soane's genius, juxtaposing his intricate interior decorative schemes and architecture with a programme of ambitious contemporary art exhibitions, events and activities. Noteworthy exhibitions include Anish Kapoor, Rana Begum, Anthony Caro, and Idris Khan & Annie Morris.
Pitzhanger shop sells bespoke gifts inspired by the manor. The two cafes, Pitzhanger Pantry and the newly opened Bella Puglia Café, offer fresh coffee and homemade Italian delicacies.
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery is now run by Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust. Find out more about the Trustees and staff here.
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