Minister for Culture and Sport, John Griffiths AM will formally open an exhibition of world-renowned artworks at Chepstow Museum on Monday 28th July.
The exhibition, featuring paintings by JMW Turner, Samuel Palmer, Thomas Gainsborough, Edward Dayes, Thomas Girtin, Francis Towne, and many other great masters of the art of British Landscape, all inspired by Monmouthshire’s historic Tintern Abbey, runs until September 28th.
Manuscripts relating to world renowned works about Tintern and the Wye also feature, including letters and notes about the composition of Wordsworth’s famous poem, William Gilpin’s manuscript for his Guide to the Wye that first laid out rules for the Picturesque and a 13th century Tintern Bible as well as artefacts made for, and used in the abbey.
The exhibition, entitled “Sites of Inspiration” is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Welsh Government’s Sharing Treasures scheme which enables local museums to display objects from national institutions. Admission is free
As a sacred site and an impressive monument Tintern Abbey has inspired generations to create works of art and literature that have enthralled the world. The exhibition captures the growth and flowering of Britain’s golden age of watercolour and also illustrates the processes employed by the artists.
County Councillor Bob Greenland, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member for Innovation, Enterprise and Leisure said: “We’re very grateful to be able to exhibit these works in the area that inspired them thanks to the Sharing Treasures grant scheme. Monmouthshire’s museum service is renowned for the quality of its displays and these paintings and artworks are of world class quality. We extend a warm welcome to the exhibition and suggest that visitors also explore nearby Tintern and its abbey to witness what inspired the artists originally”.
