Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this news from the Trustees of Carisbrooke Castle Museum. Ed
Trustees of Carisbrooke Castle Museum had great pleasure in inviting members of the public to a viewing of 12 prints by Thomas Walmesley on Saturday 9th March in the Castle’s Museum. Over 50 visitors attended.
These prints, ‘Select Views of the Isle of Wight and Environs’, published by James Daniell and Son are the framed collection of an anonymous vendor. All views illustrate the Island as a ‘Picturesque Landscape’ and represent an important stage in the evolution of Island landscape art.
£2,000 still needed to secure prints
It was a unique opportunity to see these fine and rare prints which have now been offered to the Trustees at a significantly discounted price in order that they will remain on the Island.
An application for 50% grant funding is being made to the Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Fund, which leaves approximately £3,000 to be raised by public subscription. The vendor had kindly offered to lend them to the Trustees for this fund raising event after which the collection was returned to the vendor until such times when the necessary funds have been raised.
Over £140 was raised at the viewing, swelling the total raised so far to just over £1,100.
History of Thomas Walmesley
Thomas Walmesley was born in Ireland in 1763 and trained as a landscape painter in both oils and watercolour. In 1795 he published a series of aquatint views of British and Irish locations and the twelve prints of the Island were published between 1802 and 1810 some after his death in 1806.
Very few of these sets of prints were published and due to their size and cost it is thought that a number have been lost over the two hundred years since publication, therefore making these prints a rare collection and certainly worth keeping on the Island.
In 2004 one of Walmesley’s paintings, of Kenmare, County Kerry, fetched 3,209 euros in a sale at Christie’s.
Griffin: “A unique opportunity”
Some of the Isle of Wight scenes depict the wildness of the landscape and the coastline and the views illustrate an important stage in the development of landscape painting in Great Britain.
Judi Griffin, Chairman of Trustees at Carisbrooke Castle Museum said, “This is a unique opportunity to obtain these fine and rare prints. For anyone unable to attend the viewing, but who might wish to support this important purchase, your financial assistance would be most welcome.”
For anyone interested in donating please forward a cheque, made payable to Carisbrooke Castle Museum Trust, to The Treasurer, Carisbrooke Castle Museum, NEWPORT, IW PO30 1XY.
