
Exhibition launched to mark 250th anniversary of the birth of JMW Turner
Petworth House in West Sussex, where the artist visited on many occasions between 1827 and 1837, is hosting the exhibition, which adds to its own collection, which is the largest display of his work outside of London.
A National Trust spokeswoman said: 'With an additional rarely seen pieces, the exhibition includes oil paintings and works on paper, on loan from Tate and several private lenders.
'They give a fascinating insight into Turner's artistic approach, his experiments with colour, light and atmosphere – as well as his relationship with Petworth and Petworth's owner, George O'Brien Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont.
'Visitors can explore the Lancelot 'Capability' Brown designed parkland at Petworth to see the landscape which had such an impact on Turner.'
Dr Emily Knight, property curator at Petworth House: 'Turner produced an astonishing body of work at Petworth. From the numerous small sketches to the finished oil paintings, the landscape became an enduring source of inspiration.
'The exhibition will add to people's understanding of Petworth and show how it played a significant role in his life and career.'
Along with the exhibition, Petworth will be hosting a number of events, including a Summer Solstice evening on June 21 and a series of creative workshops led by West Dean College.
John Chu, the National Trust's senior national curator for paintings, said: 'Petworth was an inspiration for Turner over several decades.
'The unique combination of landscape, art and friendship he enjoyed there left an indelible mark on his creativity. The artworks in this exhibition will be a rare opportunity to see the place through his eyes and hopefully be an inspiration for our visitors too.'
The exhibition called Turner's Vision At Petworth runs from June 21 to November 16 2025.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
Thousands gather at Stonehenge for summer solstice celebration
Glen Michael Herbert, a woodcarver known as Herbie to his friends, summed up the draw of the summer solstice beautifully. 'It's a spiritual thing that people of all faiths and none can embrace,' he said. 'I think it's about feeling the wheel of the year turning, enjoying the light, appreciating nature. Most of all, coming together.' Herbert was one of the many thousands who had made their way to Wiltshire – he in his faithful van Radagast – to take in midsummer in and around Stonehenge. This one may be the most well attended for years as the solstice dawn takes place on Saturday and the weather is set pretty much perfect to observe the sun rising behind the heel stone – the ancient entrance to the monument from the ceremonial avenue – and watch its rays channel into the centre of the stone circle. There will be tedious practical challenges. National Highways has said the A303 and other roads around the sites will be very busy and urged visitors to use public transport or car share if possible. While English Heritage, which manages the site and offers controlled, free 'open access' to the stones for the solstice, said people would need to use an app to pay for parking. There is a poignancy, too, as it is 40 years since the Battle of the Beanfield, the notorious clash between police and new age travellers. Four decades on, there are still calls for an inquiry into the actions of Wiltshire police as they halted a free solstice festival at Stonehenge. Some still feel the anguish of the experience and do not like the way the 'open access' is policed and limited. Alan Lodge, who was there that day, said: 'They want to put Stonehenge in a glass case but they wouldn't do that with Salisbury Cathedral. People are allowed to go there in their thousands all year round.' English Heritage argues that it needs to strike a balance between opening the site and preserving it, while Wiltshire police say they have learned from what happened in 1985 and are working hard to ensure the solstice celebrations at Stonehenge go smoothly. The practicalities and lingering hurt aside, there was a great deal of joy in the air this week. At the Stonehenge Inn in Durrington, the manager, Dan King, said the pub and the adjacent camping and glamping field were fully booked. 'The combination of the weekend and this weather means it's going to be a busy one,' he said. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Hundreds of people had gathered at the Stonehenge Campsite at Winterbourne Stoke for Solsticefest 25, a four-day celebration involving music, crafts and healing. The site runs bus shuttles to Stonehenge for the solstice. At the campsite, as at the circle on solstice morning, an eclectic mix of people had gathered. Nicky Jasmine, from Manchester, a volunteer at the site, said everyone was welcome. 'We don't judge what people are wearing, we don't judge their beliefs.' There were pagans there, such as Adrian Thompson and Tina Lyons. Thompson, 62, a window blind fitter from Leicester, said the solstice was a chance to 'honour the ancestors' – and make new friends. Chris Richards, a 35-year-old carer from Wolverhampton, said a few drinks and a party was certainly an element of the experience, but he also loved 'cuddling up' with his friends at the circle at dawn. 'Even when it's hot like this, it can get chilly. We get into a ditch; the wind blows over you and the sun rises. It's wonderful. I'll always come here.'


Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Telegraph
When is the summer solstice? Date, time and how to celebrate
The summer solstice, otherwise known as the longest day of the year, falls on June 21, this Saturday. Also known as midsummer or the festival solstice, it is the day with the longest period of sunlight – boding well for anyone who suffers from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or is wanting to soak up some extra vitamin D. Read on below to find out everything you need to know about summer, the solstice, traditions and the significance of Stonehenge. What time is summer solstice this year? In the northern hemisphere, the summer solstice takes place between June 20 and 22 each year. This year summer solstice falls on Saturday, June 21 at precisely3:42am in the UK. The sun will rise at 4:51am. The solstice officially marks the beginning of the astronomical summer, which ends when the autumn equinox falls on September 22. Day and night will be at almost equal length on this date, as the sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward into the northern hemisphere. What happens during the summer solstice? There are two solstices each year – one in the winter and one in the summer. The summer solstice occurs when the tilt of Earth's axis is most inclined towards the sun and is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. Traditionally, the summer solstice period fell between the planting and harvesting of crops, leaving people who worked the land time to relax. This is why June became the traditional month for weddings. It might seem like a day to celebrate, but it actually signals the moment the sun's path stops moving northward in the sky, and the start of days becoming steadily shorter as the slow march towards winter begins. However, we won't notice the days becoming shorter for a while. The shortest day of the year is not until December 21, which is known as the winter solstice. At the winter solstice, the Earth's axis is tilted furthest away from the sun directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, bringing only a few hours of daylight. In the southern hemisphere the dates of the two solstices are reversed. The winter solstice occurs on the same day in June and the summer solstice the same day in December. The term 'solstice' derives from the Latin word 'solstitium', meaning 'sun standing still'. Some prefer the more teutonic term 'sunturn' to describe the event. Astrologers say the sun seems to 'stand still' at the point on the horizon where it appears to rise and set, before moving off in the reverse direction. Equinox and solstice explainer graphic Summer solstice traditions Over the centuries, the June solstice has inspired many festivals and midsummer celebrations involving bonfires, picnics, singing, watching the sun rise and Maypole dancing. Many towns and villages across Britain still mark the day. One ritual was the lighting of fires, heralding the start of shorter days, although this does not happen often anymore. The idea was that flames would keep the dark away. How to celebrate the summer solstice Stonehenge always welcomes an influx of garland-wearing hippies, druids and curious tourists who head to the mysterious stone circles and wait for the sun to appear. Crowds of around 10,000 traditionally greet the moment dawn breaks, as the sun rises behind the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle, with a mixture of cheers and silent meditation each June. The Golowan Festival showcases bright parades with festival-goers dancing the Serpent Dance to the sound of the Golowan Band. There are also Golowan workshops in the run-up to the festival, where those celebrating can engage in various activities such as costume, mask and headdress-making. Other activities to get you in the summer spirit include model boat making to sail at the boating pool event on Quay Fair Day, banner making, practising circus skills, and a photography town trail. Why is Stonehenge so significant to the summer solstice? Stonehenge in Amesbury, Wiltshire, is the most popular place for Pagans to celebrate the longest day because it famously aligns to the solstices. The rising sun only reaches the middle of the stones one day of the year when it shines on the central altar. Built in three phases between 3,000 B.C. and 1,600 BC, Stonehenge's exact purpose still remains a mystery. The stones were brought from very long distances – the bluestones from the Preseli Hills more than 150 miles away, and the sarsens probably from the Marlborough Downs, 19 miles to the north. The day marks the ancient middle of summer. It has significance for pagans who have always believed that midsummer day holds a special power. Midsummer's eve was believed to be a time when the veil between this world and the next was at its thinnest, and when fairies were thought to be at their most powerful. What is the connection to midsummer? Midsummer is a separate event to the summer solstice. This year, midsummer is to be held on Tuesday June 24. Referencing the time period between the middle of the summer, this celebration predates Christianity and is primarily held close to the summer solstice. Traditionally a quarter day - when servants were hired, school terms started and rents were due - midsummer bonfires are still lit on some hills in Cornwall. Bonfires were also typical of Golowan, the festival now celebrated in Penzance, Cornwall, as they signified the Feast of St John (Gol-Jowan).

Leader Live
14 hours ago
- Leader Live
‘Door open' for Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner to play at music venue's final gig
Kane, 39, who plays with Turner in The Last Shadow Puppets, is due to play the venue's last gig on June 27, after The Leadmill announced it would have to leave its premises in the South Yorkshire city after losing a long-running eviction battle with its landlord, Electric Group. Arctic Monkeys played several early shows at the venue before the release of their first album, Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not, and Kane has said he would welcome Turner's return to the stage during an interview with Radio X. Asked whether the Sheffield-born singer, who is also 39, would join him, Kane said: 'Well, he's redecorating it (The Leadmill) at the minute, so he's making it all leopard print for us, because, you know, it's got to be done by hand. 'My door's always open for my bro, he knows that, and that's that.' Turner has not performed live since Arctic Monkeys' last gig on their tour in support of latest album The Car (2022) in 2023. The duo have seen both of their albums with The Last Shadow Puppets reach number one in the UK albums chart, and Kane said it would be an 'honour' to play The Leadmill's last gig having performed there throughout his career. He told Radio X: 'It's served me well, and Sheffield as a city as well has always had my back with gigs, that'd be one of the first to sell out or whatever. 'So, it's a complete honour, and let's give it a good send-off. I think it'll be a very special night, and it always pops off in there, and hopefully next Friday it won't be any different.' Arctic Monkeys have seen six of their seven albums reach number one, and two of their singles reach the peak of the UK singles chart in I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor and When The Sun Goes Down. The band performed I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor and a cover of The Beatles' Come Together at the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games in 2012, and have also headlined Glastonbury on three occasions, in 2007, 2013 and 2023.