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Mercer Art Gallery Evokes The Glory Of The Garden

15/06/2004

Image: Shows a painting, which depicts a long thin room, bordered on one side by a line of columns. The room is filled with people and to one side there is a high display stand on which there are a number of bunches of flowers.

Photo: Corridor of Flowers - Bath Flower Market by Terese Lessore, c.1930s. See below for full credits.

The Glory Of The Garden: Flowers and Gardens in Art is on show at the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate until September 5.

Planned to celebrate Harrogate and nearby Darley’s bid to win the international Entente Florale 2004 compeitition, the exhibition includes works by David Hockney, Atkinson Grimshaw, Anne Redpath and Paul Nash.

This year Britain in Bloom has nominated Harrogate and Darley to represent the nation in the Europe in Bloom competition and, not wishing to miss out on the occasion, the North Gallery at the Mercer Art Gallery is ablaze with colour.

Image: Shows a painting showing a view of a large dramatic looking house, as seen through leaveless trees and against a backdrop of a dark and yellowing autumnal sky.

Photo: Yorkshire Home by Atkinson Grimshaw, 1878.

All summer long, a vast number of works will be on display, showcasing fine and decorative art united by the theme of flowers and gardens.

"The Glory of the Garden exhibition highlights some of the best works from the gallery’s permanent collection, and some exciting works on loan from private owners", said curator of art, Jane Sellars.

One well-known treasure from the gallery’s collection is Atkinson Grimshaw’s (1836-1893) A Yorkshire Home. Its melancholy Autumnal garden, contrasts with the vivid colours of Ivon Hitchens’ Tangled Pool.

Image: Shows a painting, which depicts using large splashes of bright and often primary colour, a pool with surrounding flowers.

Photo: Tangled Pool by Ivon Hitchens, 1948.

Perhaps the most famous artist from the modern era to be exhibited is David Hockney and the show includes his prints Black Tulips and Agave Plant, on loan from a private collection.

There are also some lesser-known paintings appearing alongside some of the gallery’s more famous works.

Herbert Richter’s The Indian Shawl, a vibrant painting of summer flowers in a domestic interior, is joined by Anne Redpath’s Flower Study.

Image: Shows a painting of a potted cactus, which has one large and protruding flower. The plant is sitting on a shelf in front of a mirror, in which can be seen a reflection of the room in front of it.

Photo: Cactus by Paul Nash, 1928.

A wealth of work by female artists including Anna Airey, Francoise Boudet, and Therese Lessore is accompanied by Nerys Johnson’s vibrant watercolour studies of tulips, sweet peas, irises, crocuses and petunias.

Delicate, rarely seen objects from the decorative art collections also make a flowery summer display, from gentlemen’s embroidered silk waistcoats and elegant beaded purses to decorated ceramics and glass.

All Images © The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate Museums and Arts.

Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate
Mercer Art Gallery, Swan Road, Harrogate, HG1 2SA, North Yorkshire, England

Open: Tues-Sat 1000-1700 Sun 1400-1700
Closed: Mondays except Bank Holidays (open 10am-5pm)

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