THREE paintings of East Lancashire by one of Britain’s most celebrated artists have gone on show at Towneley Hall in Burnley for the first time.
The JMW Turner watercolours have been shown separately at the hall before but the exhibition, which opened yesterday, was the first in which they have been displayed together.
The artist produced the three paintings during a stay in the area at the end of the 18th century.
The paintings, which are all in the Towneley Hall collection, are of Towneley Hall itself, Mitton Hall in Whalley and the Study of Crosses in the graveyard of Whalley Parish Church.
Turner was famous for being a free spirit and would stay at grand residencies for free while he painted the homes and would then leave the owner with a painting before moving on again.
He painted Towneley Hall in 1798 when personally asked by Charles Towneley, who was a prolific collector of artwork from all over Europe.
A year later the Rev Thomas Dunham Whitaker employed Turner, then 24, on the advice of Charles Towneley to illustrate his book, The History of Whalley.
While working on the book he stayed at Mr Whitaker’s home, The Holme in Cliviger.
Coun Jeff Sumner, Burnley Council’s executive member for leisure and culture, said: “This exhibition is big news for Burnley and Pennine Lancashire.
“To showcase an artist whose paintings can be seen in the Tate Gallery, the home of great British art, is very exciting for the town.
“It is even more exciting that one of the paintings we are displaying is of the building it sits in, our very own Towneley Hall.”
The paintings are only displayed in Towneley Hall very occasionally to protect them from damage in the sunlight. The last time any of the Turners went on display was around five years ago.
The exhibition will showcase 26 watercolours which are being hung in the new Stocks Massey gallery until April 9.
Turner’s pieces will join those of other famous British artists such as David Cox and David Roberts, alongside celebrated local artists such as Orlando Greenwood.
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