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 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