Visit The Harley Gallery this winter to enjoy a beautiful white Christmas. The Harley Gallery in North Nottinghamshire is delighted to present A Symphony of Curves - an exhibition of contemporary plasterwork by master craftsman Geoffrey Preston. Plasterwork is luxurious and evocative. Its intricate swoops and swirls of pure white are reminiscent of a snow dusted landscape or a beautifully iced Christmas cake. Accompanying events include tours of the spectacular interiors at Welbeck Abbey with its extraordinary 18th century plasterwork ceilings and Edwardian Arts and Crafts fairytale friezes, and exhibition talk with Geoffrey Preston.
01/11/2014 11/01/2015 Geoffrey Preston is one of the UK s leading architectural sculptors, specialising in sculpture and decorative plasterwork and in particular the art of stucco. He has been at the helm of many awardwinning projects and this exhibition A Symphony of Curves: Geoffrey Preston - a tradition in plaster highlights his work. The exhibition includes a range of Geoffrey Preston's work, from small, beautifully modelled relief panels, to a wildly exuberant new Rococo ceiling. Design drawings and photographs of some of his principal commissions are also on display. Background Geoffrey studied sculpture at Hornsey College of Art. He was a founding director of two of the country's most respected conservation companies and worked on many significant projects, including the pioneering restoration of the 18th century hand modelled plasterwork at Uppark House, and four years restoring the Ca'd'Zan, one of the great houses of the southern United States. In 2000 Geoffrey set up his studio in Recent Work A detail from the new Rococo ceiling, showing the vibrant modelling and eccentric use of form typical of the Rococo style. Made for architect Francis Terry, it was based on a stucco ceiling in Ottobeuren Cathedral, Bavaria. Drawings & Designs A design for a classical panel from one of Geoffrey's sketchbooks, which contain hundreds of sketches and drawings from projects real and imagined. This design was inspired by the C18th neoclassical plasterwork at Prior The New House The New House was designed by George Saumarez Smith of Adam Architecture. Geoffrey made four hand modelled stucco panels for the dining room, inspired by the long, curving leaf forms found in baroque and rococo plasterwork.
GOTHIC SPLENDOUR & AN ARTS AND CRAFTS ROMANCE See Welbeck Abbey s spectacular plasterwork embellished interior Ornate stalactites of plasterwork, Jacobean style motifs, flora, fauna and a zodiac embellished with the initials of a newlywed Duke and Duchess Welbeck Abbey s historic interior has been adorned with plasterwork over generations. Welbeck Abbey is the ancestral home of the Dukes of Portland, whose family has been at Welbeck since 1607. During August and September each year, guided walking tours provide the public with a rare opportunity to visit the Abbey and see objects from the family art collection, while experiencing the grand interiors of this Stately home. These interiors include spectacular examples of plasterwork. The ceiling of Welbeck Abbey s Gothic Hall drips with immense decorative cones; the design is unusual in the scale of these forms which are extraordinarily large - and required a ceiling so high that the upper rooms of Welbeck Abbey had to be removed
In the 1880 s, plasterwork was again employed in the redesign of the house, as Winifred, Duchess of Portland (1863 1954) created an interior fit for grand entertaining. Designed by John Sedding and executed by Henry Wilson, her arts and crafts ceiling, which winds from the Print Corridor along to the Titchfield Library, features images of flora and fauna. At the Titchfield Library, the design reaches a finale with an enormous roundel, decorated with images from the signs of the zodiac, and the intertwined initials of the Duchess and her husband, the 6th Duke of Portland. The plasterwork is thought to have been commissioned to commemorate the Duke and Duchess wedding in 1889 visitors may be able to spot further hearts in the metalwork and windows in this room. Visit www.harleygallery.co.uk to find out more about The Portland Collection State Room Tours and further opportunities to see the spectacular interiors at Welbeck Abbey. Notes to Editors For more information please contact Rebecca Wombell, Marketing Manager on 01909 501 700 / marketing@harleygallery.co.uk The Harley Gallery is where old and new come together. It has a national reputation for excellence and innovation, aiming to widen participation and develop understanding of the work of practicing artists and makers. Situated on the ducal estate of Welbeck in North Nottinghamshire, the Gallery is easily accessible from both the A1 and M1. The three gallery spaces at The Harley show exhibitions of top quality contemporary visual art and craft which change 5 times a year. The Harley Gallery is also home to a Treasury Museum which is the only exhibition space dedicated to showing objects from The Portland Collection of fine and decorative arts, built up by the Dukes of Portland and their families at Welbeck over 400 years. It also has a contemporary Craft Shop, recognized by the Crafts Council as a quality retail outlet. Set up to showcase and support artists and makers by providing a retail outlet for their work, the Harley Craft shop sells work from leading British applied artists and emerging makers. Related Events Exhibition talk with Geoffrey Preston at Welbeck Abbey Christmas Art and Food Market and Harley Open Studios See www.harleygallery.co.uk for details The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 3LW. For SatNav s please use S80 3LT. FREE entry. Open 10-5 Mon Sat, 10-4.30 Sunday. Closed Easter Sunday and Christmas.
Additional Images 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Image Credits Previous pages Page 1 - A Symphony of Curves, The New House dining room with stucco panels, Photo nickcarterphotography.com - Gothic Hall 1908 (c) Country Life Picture Library. Page 3- The ceiling of The Gothic Hall, which dates from 1751. Current Page 1. Geoffrey working on a clay model based on a painting by Tintoretto of Bacchus, Venue & Ariadne, Photo nickcarterphotography.com 2. Portrait of Geoffrey in the studio, Photo Mark Girvan at Buddy Creative 3. A view of the studio with two completed panels, Photo Geoffrey Preston 4. The completed cast of the rococo ceiling (detail), Photo nickcarterphotography.com 5. Geoffrey Preston at work on a hand modelled stucco panel, Photo nickcarterphotography.com 6. The Ballroom at Great Fulford, just after the scaffold was taken down, Photo Geoffrey Preston 7. Great Fulford Great Drawing Room - Owners Francis and Kishanda Fulford in the newly restored Great Drawing Room, Photo nickcarterphotography.com
Additional Images 1. 2. Image Credits Current Page 1. The Print Corridor at Welbeck Abbey 2. The Entrance Hall at Welbeck Abbey