COUNTRY HOUSE
DISCOVERIES:
Ightham Mote, near Sevenoaks in Kent
New displays celebrate Ightham’s close connection to leading 19th-century portraitist John Singer Sargent. One of Sargent’s paint boxes, still filled with his brushes and tools, is on show publicly for the first time, with two of his paint palettes. They give a rare glimpse into his masterful working methods and favourite colours. Sargent was a frequent guest at Ightham, home of the influential Palmer family. Paintings he created whilst staying there are still on show at the Mote today. Fresh flower displays mirror the bold colours in Sargent’s paintings. Grown at Ightham, the seasonal displays evoke the love and inspiration he drew from the Mote and other quintessential English country gardens.
nationaltrust.org.uk/ ightham-moteto
The Tiger Who Came to Tea at Nymans May 4 – July 14, 10am–4:30pm,
Judith Kerr’s classic story comes to Nymans in West Sussex for a fun family trail around the garden, produced in partnership with HarperCollins Publishers.
Explore this very special tea-time through extracts and illustrations from Judith Kerr’s classic story.
In the Story Room, take a seat at Sophie’s kitchen table, play dress-up with costumes from the story or cosy up and read the book together. During May half term, pick up a free trail sheet and see if you can spot what’s on the menu as you explore the garden.
There are more tea-time fun and games in the Play Glade too.
Free with usual admission, nationaltrust. org.uk/nymans
The Last Tree exhibition at Polesden Lacey 27 April - 25 October, 11am–3:30pm
Polesden Lacey in Surrey is collaborating with bestselling author and celebrated nature artist Luke Adam Hawker. The exhibition invites you to discover the beauty of nature through original ink line drawings, prints, illustrations and pages from Hawker’s illustrated book The Last Tree, published by Barnes and Noble.
The exhibition takes you on a gentle imaginative journey to a world without trees. Until a young girl comes along, who is willing to follow where her imagination takes her.
Inside the house, Hawker’s illustrations are exhibited alongside Mrs Greville’s exquisite Fabergé and art collection.
Exhibition entry free with usual admission, nationaltrust.org.uk/ polesden-lacey
Celebrating Angelica Kauffman at Petworth House 10 June – 24 Nov, 10:30am – 4:30pm
This spring, a painting by one of the most celebrated artists of the 18th century will be shown in a new light at Petworth House in West Sussex, together with a film that takes visitors behind the scenes of a remarkable conservation project.
Angelica Kauffman (17411807) was one of the most important female artists of her day, and a founding member of the Royal Academy. Recent conservation of her 1788 painting depicting a scene from Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida has removed layers of varnish to revive colour and detail.
Display entry free with usual admission, www. nationaltrust.org.uk/ petworth