Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Turner in Tonbridge?...

Tonbridge Civic Society are meeting at the Angel Centre Riverside Lounge which, curiously, is not on the riverside by the way, tonight at 7-30 for coffee, tea and biccies for an 8pm start. The talk will be all about Turner the artist, who I bet you didn't know painted quite a few pictures of the area including the landscape around Summerhill House. Go tonight to find out more; it's free to members. If you're not a member you can pay £2 on the door but why be so tight with your money? Just join it's only £7 for the whole year and you get to meet some new people and go to some very interesting talks and trips....

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dont forget that the Turner Contemporary Gallery Opens on the 16 April 2011.
The what you may ask? We the tax payers of KCC have put in more than £8 millions towards the building cost and are picking up the annual running costs estimated to be £1 million.
But do you really wont to go to run down Margate when you can go to the Tate Modern?

sebfox said...

I'm not a Tonbridgonian, (if that's the word for being born here) but is it the building that is now the school? On the road to Paddock Wood?
If so, where was he when he did the painting?
This is it by the way... http://www.theweald.org/m13.asp?PicIdto=9901494

Anonymous said...

I am really looking forward to the Turner Gallery opening. I really do want to go to run down Margate as well as the Tate Modern where I am a member. I go to the De la Warr too. This will be a brilliant gallery on the edge of a watery seascape reflecting Turners work. Great stuff. Not sure about the Civic Society meeting though - sorry.

Anonymous said...

@ sebfox ... yes it is the building that is now the school. This scene is between the roudabout where you can turn up to Paddock Wood and passed the school and the roundabout by the Vauxhall Inn. It is mentioned that it was painted at Woodgate Bridge and Woodgate is the old peoples residences by the road. It is quite interesting as this was painted during the few years that Turner concentrated on landscape and was compiling a book of prints so it fits in with his pastoral efforts. Why Tonbridge - not sure and I wonder what brought him here, but his second illegitimate daughter was born that year and maybe he was in the area for that. In any case it is typically well framed which reflects Turner's work at that time. A wooded pastural scene with grazing cattle sandwiched between a large expanse of sky and water. He of course later was known for his marvellous empty sky scapes and use of light not really prevalent in this piece, but showing the beginnings. He has even managed to include a boat with a mast which is strange (not a rowing a boat) and a few figures centrally in the water. He often juxtaposed human form with landscape. He even included a row of ducks going into the water and this technically breaks the line of river bank. This painting hangs in The National Gallery of Scotland/Edinburgh.

Anonymous said...

btw it was painted in 1811 when Turner was 36 years old. He started with the RA around 14 years old and painted until his death at 76 years old, so this was around the middle of his career. His most recognisable paintings were later.

Anonymous said...

anon 6.05 you will be spoilt for gallery choice in the S.E. with the Towner and when its built the Jerwood.
I just hope KCC can spare/justify a £1 million per year on contemporary art when social care/libraries/roads and many other essential services budgets are under pressure.

Anonymous said...

@ anon 6.05 ... yes, we will all be spoiled for choice and I am pleased about that. Funding to the Arts have been slashed to a minimum believe it or not. I am afraid I believe that funding in this area is as important as roads and social care. I certainly believe the arts are more worthwhile than money invested in parking, some leisure services, and a number of other areas. it is not a case of either/or. But yes I am particularly looking forward to the Jerwood which will hopefully regenerate Hastings and bring some benefit to the town.