Turner watercolour of Hylton Castle to feature alongside Bellotto masterpiece in first Sunderland exhibition since lockdown

An 18th century watercolour of landmark Hylton Castle by JMW Turner will feature in a new exhibition at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, alongside a Bellotto masterpiece.
This will be the first exhibition at the Museum and Winter Gardens since lockdownThis will be the first exhibition at the Museum and Winter Gardens since lockdown
This will be the first exhibition at the Museum and Winter Gardens since lockdown

One of the most impressive examples of 18th century landscape painting is coming to the museum as part of a major UK-wide tour organised by the National Gallery London, supported by Art Fund.

The Fortress of Königstein Castle from the North (1756–8), by Venetian painter Bernardo Bellotto was saved for the nation in 2017 by the National Gallery, with the support of Art Fund and other funders.

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Bellotto’s masterpiece will be displayed alongside five other castle themed European Old Master paintings from the National Gallery’s collection, and paintings from Sunderland Museum’s own collection when the exhibition, Castles: Paintings from the National Gallery, London, opens on Tuesday, September 8.

Turner's watercolour of Hylton CastleTurner's watercolour of Hylton Castle
Turner's watercolour of Hylton Castle

These include The Castle of Ischia (1841), a large oil painting by Sunderland-born artist Clarkson Stanfield (1793-1867); a watercolour of Hylton Castle by JMW Turner, who visited the site in 1817; a pencil and ballpoint drawing of Bamburgh Castle by LS Lowry (1959) and a

painting of Lumley Castle by English landscape painter Thomas Hearne (1779).

Shauna Gregg, Exhibitions, Collections and Archives Officer, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with the National Gallery in celebrating the acquisition of one of the most significant European landscape paintings.

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“Together with other paintings from the National Gallery it will complement Sunderland Museum’s impressive collection of castle-related paintings and artwork, including work by Stanfield, Turner and Lowry.”

Bernardo Bellotto. The Fortress of Königstein from the North. About 1756-8. ©The National Gallery, LondonBernardo Bellotto. The Fortress of Königstein from the North. About 1756-8. ©The National Gallery, London
Bernardo Bellotto. The Fortress of Königstein from the North. About 1756-8. ©The National Gallery, London

Lowry’s drawing of Bamburgh Castle was sketched on to the back of an envelope. As well as a regular visitor to Sunderland, Lowry liked to visit Bamburgh and produced other more detailed drawings of the castle, as well as an oil painting.

Clarkson Stanfield’s watercolour of Roch Castle in Pembrokeshire will also be in the exhibition. Stanfield was a prominent Victorian artist, particularly known for his marine and landscape work which include his famous painting of The Battle of Trafalgar, painted five years before The Castle of Ischia.

Other castles from Sunderland Museum’s collection include Brancepeth Castle, Warkworth Castle, Lambton Castle, Barnard Castle, Durham Castle and Prudhoe Castle.

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Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Vibrant City, Councillor John Kelly said: “We feel privileged to be one of only three venues hosting the National Gallery tour – because of our history, castles have long been part of the north east landscape and this exhibition is a great way of celebrating great art and our heritage. This will be our first new on-site exhibition since lockdown, and I’m sure will prove very popular.”

An engraving of Hylton Castle by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (1728) also features in the exhibitionAn engraving of Hylton Castle by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (1728) also features in the exhibition
An engraving of Hylton Castle by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (1728) also features in the exhibition

Castles: Paintings from the National Gallery, London will be accompanied by a free learning and participation programme featuring talks, blogs, virtual tours, competitions, and fun family activities.

Free family takeaway packs, packed with castle-themed activities will also be available to pick up from the Museum from August 24 and available to download online.

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