Sculptures put estate in good shape for reopening

In what is the first major exhibition of his work since his death in November last year, William Turnbull will become the first artist to have artwork displayed both indoors and outdoors at Chatsworth House, seat of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

The collection of sculpture, paintings and drawings by Turnbull will go on show to the public when the stately home, near Bakewell, opens for the year on Sunday.

Clare Lilley from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park has curated the exhibition outside in Chatsworth’s magnificent grounds, while Alex Turnbull – the artist’s son – has curated the displays indoors.

“We’re always flat out, it’s always a very busy time, but it seems to get busier every year,” the Duke of Devonshire said yesterday.

“We’re very lucky to have such an excellent team here.”

Turnbull’s extraordinarily varied sculptures have been arriving at Chatsworth for the past two or three months, the Duke said, in preparation for the grand opening this weekend.

He said: “My wife and I have liked Turnbull’s work for a long time.

“She bought some of his drawings about 30 years ago and we acquired a sculpture about 10 years ago.

“We contacted his son Alex, who was helping his father before he died, and we suggested the possibility of an exhibition. We’re very happy that they agreed.”

While large works of sculpture have been displayed in Chatsworth’s grand grounds – which have also undergone a facelift in preparation for the new season – inside the house are paintings, drawings and masques.

“There’s three or four sculptures around the Ring Pond that I like very much”, the Duke added.

“And an arrowhead on the Salisbury Lawn is very beautiful indeed.

“I think that anybody who is interested in modern British art will be interested to see Turnbull’s work, both indoors and outdoors.

“But there’s a lot of other things to see as well.”

Alongside the William Turnbull exhibition, two other new displays will also open this month.

One is a collection of drawings by the Dutch painter Rembrandt, which were purchased by the second Duke of Devonshire almost 300 years ago but have never previously been on show to the public.

Meanwhile, the current Duke’s sister – Emma Tennant – will be displaying her watercolours in the house, in an exhibition inspired by the flowers in Chatsworth’s gardens.

“These beautiful watercolours are so different from the Turnbull that you can’t quite believe they’re from the same century, but they are equally fascinating,” the Duke said.

Themes for the watercolours include the Cavendish banana and Rhododendron barbatum, which will be in flower at Chatsworth as the exhibition opens.

The exhibition takes its inspiration from the sixth Duke of Devonshire’s 19th-century plant list, unearthed from the Chatsworth archives by Mrs Tennant, with some of the 
plants found still growing at Chatsworth.

She sought out and grew some of the missing specimens from seed and found others growing elsewhere to enable her to include as many Chatsworth specialities as possible.

The Duke said: “We’re delighted to be able to stage this exhibition which celebrates my sister Emma as an artist, gardener, botanist and historian.

“What a wonderful way to pay tribute and record some of the huge variety of plants and flowers introduced by the sixth Duke and carefully grown here under the supervision of Joseph Paxton.

“I’m sure many visitors will enjoy viewing the paintings”.

The paintings are accompanied by the artist’s detailed notes about the plants and items from the Chatsworth archive.

The exhibition is in the New Gallery at Chatsworth and entry is included with admission to the house.

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