Art Enrichment trip to Stourhead

On Friday 18^th November, the Art Enrichment cohort visited the local country estate of Stourhead as we focused on gathering inspiration towards our ‘Nature’ themed project...

The weather was on our side as we had an interactive tour exploring the landscaped gardens around the lake. Our tour guide, Irene, gave us an inspirational insight into the stunning landscape from the Temple of Apollo, the Pantheon and the Palladian Bridge. As we chased the autumnal sun around the lake, we had opportunities to sketch and were given the history of the estate and the Hoare family who owned the property.

Pupils gained an understanding of the Romantic landscape painters such as 17^th Century artists Claude Lorrain, Nicolas Poussin and Gaspard Dughet who were major influences. These masterpieces, many collected on the grand tour, were celebrated as they immortalised idyllic rural landscapes in works of art. With its iconic views, this area of the estate is where art and landscaping collide. The ‘living work of art’ as it was described when it first opened.

Pupils had a chance to actively connect with nature, and they will take our first-hand studies and understanding into the classical arts to create their own land art experiments back in the studio in the coming weeks. 

George Cole - Art Teacher

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