Abbot Hall Art Gallery facts for kids
Abbot Hall Art Gallery is a special art museum located in Kendal, England. It's housed in a beautiful old building that was built in 1759. This building was once a grand home for Colonel George Wilson. Before that, it was where a religious leader, called an Abbot, would stay when visiting from St Mary's Abbey, York.
The building is very old and important, so it's known as a "Grade I listed building." This means it's protected because of its history and design. In the early 1900s, the building was quite run down, but it was carefully fixed up to become the art gallery we see today.
As of early 2021, Abbot Hall was closed for some exciting improvements. It's set to reopen on May 20, 2023, with a new art show by an artist named Julie Brook.
The Gallery Building
The Abbot Hall building started as a large town house. It was later changed into an art gallery between 1957 and 1962. The building is made of stone and has a classic look. It features special stone corners called quoins and decorative details under the roof.
The main part of the building has two floors and a basement. The front of the building is symmetrical, meaning it looks the same on both sides. Curved steps lead up to the main entrance, which has a round-shaped doorway with a fancy fanlight above it. On either side of the entrance, there are bay windows that stick out. The building also has Venetian windows and oval windows, adding to its unique style.
Amazing Art Collection
Abbot Hall Art Gallery has a fantastic collection of artworks. It's especially known for having many paintings by George Romney, who was a famous artist. You can also see his sketchbooks and drawings here. The gallery also displays beautiful paintings from the 1700s, including views of Windermere by Philip James de Loutherbourg. Another local artist, Daniel Gardner, also has important works in the collection.
The gallery has a large collection of watercolours, which are paintings made with water-based paints. Many famous watercolour artists from the 1700s and 1800s are featured. These include John Robert Cozens, David Cox, Peter De Wint, John Sell Cotman, John Varley, and Edward Lear. You can also see two watercolours by the very famous artist J. M. W. Turner: The Passage of Mount St. Gotthard and Windermere (from 1821).
In 2011, a large painting called The Great Picture was put on display. This painting shows Lady Anne Clifford and her family.
The gallery also has many drawings and watercolours by John Ruskin. He was an important art critic who lived in the Lake District. The modern art collection at Abbot Hall includes paintings and sculptures by well-known artists like Barbara Hepworth, Jean Arp, and Elisabeth Frink. You can also find works by Ben Nicholson, Kurt Schwitters, David Hockney, LS Lowry, and many others.
There's also a special display about the English writer Arthur Ransome. You can see his desk, typewriter, and other items. The gallery is also the official home of The Arthur Ransome Society, a group dedicated to his work.
Past Exhibitions
Abbot Hall Art Gallery often hosts interesting art exhibitions. Here are a few examples of past shows:
2019
- Ruskin, Turner & the Storm Cloud: This exhibition explored works by Ruskin and Turner, and also featured art by Emma Stibbon.
- Refuge: The Art of Belonging
- Coming Home: Lady Anne Clifford
2018
- Julie Cope's Grand Tour: The Story of a Life by Grayson Perry
- Alison Watt: A Shadow on the Blind
2013
- Picasso’s Tête de Femme
- Exultant Strangeness: Graham Sutherland Landscapes
- Lynn Chadwick: Evolution in Sculpture
2012
- Hughie O'Donoghue: Vivid Field
- Francis Bacon to Paula Rego
- Turner and his Contemporaries: The Hickman Bacon Watercolour Collection
2011
- ARTIST ROOMS: Richard Long
- Kitaj: Portraits and Reflections
- Sheila Fell
See also
In Spanish: Abbot Hall Art Gallery para niños
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Kendal
