Media release: 17 February 2023
From the Cornish Coast to the Malvern Hills
British Impressionism from the 19th and 20th century
Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
- From the Cornish Coast to the Malvern Hills arrives at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum on 4 March until 1 July 2023
- British impressionist works on loan from the Bowerman Trust and Southampton Art Gallery will be exhibited alongside works from Worcester’s Fine Art Collection
- Includes new acquisitions of paintings by Dame Laura Knight
The new exhibition From the Cornish Coast to the Malvern Hills arrives at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum on 4 March until 1 July 2023.
The exhibition celebrates the links between Worcestershire and the Newlyn School of artists who were pivotal in this magical moment of British art.
British Impressionists characteristically painted ‘en plein air’ and, with free brushstrokes and joyful colours, focused on the interplay between working people, families at leisure and the landscapes they lived in. The technique of painting in the open air rather than in a studio, allowed the painter to capture the momentary and transient effects of sunlight by working quickly, in front of their subject.
The exhibition includes paintings by Stanhope Forbes, Dame Laura Knight and Elizabeth Forbes. Camille and Lucian Pissarro represent the influence of French Impressionists.
Stanhope Forbes, along with Walter Langley, Elizabeth Forbes and others, choose the small Cornish fishing village of Newlyn to become the centre of a new movement in British Art, founding the Newlyn School in the 1880s. Their paintings became highly regarded and were regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy. Many groups of interlinked artists following similar ideals and styles emerged around the country creating a new genre of art – British Impressionism. There are many wonderful examples in the Worcester City Collection and this exhibition explores their impact and legacy on British art, and how the Malvern Hills became a place of creative sanctuary and influence for many artists.
The exhibition includes two works by Dame Laura Knight recently acquired for the Worcester City Collection. The artworks were purchased with support from Art Fund, the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Worcestershire Heritage, Art & Museums Charity and kind donations from Art Gallery & Museum Members.
Deborah Fox, Senior Curator at the Art Gallery and Museum commented:
“Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum is committed to bringing great art and artists to the region. This incredible selection of British Impressionist works shines a light on the importance of this moment in art, as well as being a joy to see.”
For more information, please visit www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk
ENDS
Press contact:
For further information contact:
Helen Large, at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum on email Helen.Large@worcester.gov.uk
Image Credit: Stanhope Forbes, Chadding on Mount’s Bay, 1902, Worcester City Collection.
There will be a photo opportunity on Friday 3 March, 11am.
Exhibition Details:
From the Cornish Coast to the Malvern Hills
British Impressionism from the 19th and 20th century
Saturday 4 March – Saturday 1 July 2023 | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Monday to Saturday 10.30am – 4.30pm
FREE entry
From the Cornish Coast to the Malvern Hills celebrates the wonderful work of the British Impressionists, featuring stunning paintings on loan from the Bowerman Trust and Southampton Art Gallery together with artworks from Worcester’s Fine Art Collection.
About Museums Worcestershire
Museums Worcestershire is the joint museum service of Worcester City and Worcestershire County Councils. It comprises three fantastic venues– Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, the Commandery in Worcester and The County Museum at Hartlebury Castle.
The collections and exhibitions at our sites are many and varied, covering centuries of the county’s history right up to the present day. Thousands of objects, including the historic buildings themselves, are brought to life through innovative exhibitions and events throughout the year.