Killerton drawing master art exhibition

Killerton House, near Exeter, is to host its first historic fine art exhibition. ‘Framing the view: Nicholson, the Killerton drawing master’, presented by guest curator Professor Gordon Bell, will launch on Sunday 17 May and runs until 13 September.

The exhibition features over 50 watercolours and lithographs by artist Francis Nicholson, drawing master and art teacher to the Acland family. These ‘Picturesque’ artworks were intended to create an emotional response in the viewer through scenes of beautiful, wild and sublime countryside and they inspired the Aclands to shape Killerton’s landscape into what National Trust visitors see today.

Professor Gordon Bell said: “I’m looking forward to curating Killerton’s first historic fine art exhibition. Nicholson’s paintings were widely admired by the Acland family, Turner and many others. I’m sure his artwork will keep on inspiring Killerton’s visitors”.

Nicholson taught Killerton’s 10th Baronet, Sir Thomas Acland, and his siblings. Sir Thomas’ mother, Henrietta Fortescue, was the artist’s star pupil and he dedicated his book on the art of watercolour to her. The artist spent summers teaching the family at Holnicote, another Acland estate in Somerset, and they used his techniques to record their own travels around the continent.

Denise Melhuish, Killerton’s House and Collections Manager said: “We already have some Nicholson art that was commissioned by the Aclands in the Killerton House collection; and Nicholson’s self-portrait, painted when he was 89, today hangs at the bottom of the grand oak staircase. We jumped at the chance to exhibit his great work”.

The exhibition inside the House extends into the outdoors, where twelve playful installations have been deliberately placed to highlight Killerton’s own picturesque views. In addition, interpretation boards will help tell the story behind the people who owned, designed and painted the landscape. Visitors will stumble upon objects such as giant picture frames and period costumes which will encourage them to look at the views in a different way; as well as photograph their own modern day masterpieces and self-portraits.

Hundreds of ‘Framing the View’ selfies will be used to create a giant mosaic that will be hung on display at Killerton until September as a collaborative piece of public art.