John Piper is one of the best known and influential of 20th Century British artists and Sherborne House is pleased and proud to announce a major exhibition of his work from the 23 August to the 21 September 2003.
The exhibition comes courtesy of the collection of Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, Sussex and is titled 'John Piper: A Versatile Artist' because that's exactly what he was. Piper was a painter of abstracts and of war-torn Britain, a watercolourist, sculptor and textile designer and an artist who has been honoured by retrospectives in both Tate Britain and the Imperial War Museum. This year is also the centenary of his birth.
It is fitting that Sherborne House, which plans to become a major centre for culture and the visual arts in the region, should bring this important artist to the South West.
Sherborne House is further delighted to offer three prints by John Piper as prizes in a raffle to run concurrent with the exhibition. There will be an entry charge of £2 for the exhibition and all proceeds will go to the Sherborne House Appeal.
Background Information
Sherborne House is a fine 18th Century building in the town of Sherborne in north Dorset. It was once the home of William Macready, the celebrated Shakespearean actor of Victorian times, whose friend Charles Dickens was a regular visitor. A central feature and treasure within the House is a mural by Sir James Thornhill, father in law to William Hogarth. Thornhill also painted murals at St Paul's, Hampton Court, Chatsworth, Blenheim and the Painted Hall at Greenwich.
The building is currently being developed as a regional centre for the visual arts and in the long term intends to offer extensive inside and outside exhibiting space for contemporary visual art together with a cafe, shop, print workshop and various education and studio spaces as well as housing a permanent collection of work by Dame Elisabeth Frink.
Currently run on a voluntary basis, Sherborne House has already established itself as an asset to the region with a varied programme of exhibitions and events. Funds are needed to develop the arts programme and restore the House and mural.
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