The Selbourne naturalist who inspired artists and writers
As I meet with author and Pallant House Gallery director Simon Martin, preparations are well underway for the 2022 Steyning Festival which opens on May 27.
Simon is among the headline speakers and will be talking abouthisrecentlypublishedbook Drawn to Nature: Gilbert White and the Artists.
Since its publication in 1789, Gilbert White’s Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne has inspired generations of artists, writers and naturalists.
Simon Martin says: “Gilbert White’squietobservations,which individually can be quite poetic, taken together have a resonance whichhaveinspiredotherwriters and artists.”
The importance of White’s observations is echoed in Sir David Attenborough’s introduction to this processional book where he writes: “It would be difficult to find a less eventful life, in a worldly sense.
Gilbert White would live at Selbourne for most of his life and hisworkisareminderthatwecan journey far by remaining in the same place.
In the poem an invitation to Selbourne, Gilbert White wrote: “See,Selbournespreadsherboldest beauties round the varied valley, and the mountain ground, Wildly majestic!”
Simonexplainsthathewentto Selbourne some three years ago: “Gilbert White’s house has such a wonderful atmosphere, particularlywiththegardenandthewalk up to the hanger.
"But my route into Gilbert
White was through the Modern British artists, people like Eric Ravilious, Clare Leighton and others.
"I’d seen prints and illustrations by these artists while working on them for individual exhibitionsandprojects.Irealised so many artists have been influenced by, and illustrated White’s work.”
This lavishly illustrated book presents a series of essays, images and commentaries inspired by White’s writing including the contemporary cover illustration and end papers designed by Mark Hearld.
To find out more about what’s on at the 2022 SteyningFestivalandtobooktickets, visit steyningfestival.co.uk.
Rupert Toovey is a senior director of Toovey’s, the leading fine art auction house in West Sussex, based on the A24 at Washington - www.tooveys.com - and a priest in the Church of England Diocese of Chichester.