Image: Old Tullie House stairs and art by D+H Photography
The Old Tullie House art galleries has been reinvigorated with a new focus putting ‘The Pre-Raphaelites: Women in the Picture’.
We've curated a new display of Pre-Raphaelite paintings. The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of artists in the Victorian era who believed that art should reflect the real world. Their artwork sought a return to the abundant detail, intense colours and complex compositions of Italian art from the 15th century. ‘The Pre-Raphaelites: Women in the Picture’ explores the ways women made an impact on this work: from their roles as models, as symbols for morality, as artists themselves and as patrons. Key pieces include Burne-Jones’ stained glass window designs for St Martin’s Church, Brampton. works by Dante Gabriel Rossetti including his ‘Death of Lady Macbeth’, Elizabeth Siddal’s ‘St Agnes’ Eve’ and Arthur Hughes' Wift Within the Lute,
Image: The Pre-Raphaelites, Women in the Picture in Old Tullie House
Tullie House Museum boasts a significant collection of Pre-Raphaelite work. In 2019, part of the collection was sent on loan to Japan where it formed part of a high-profile exhibition tour to Tokyo, Kurume and Osaka. To the pleasure of the dedicated fans who often travel many miles to see the Pre-Raphaelites, the collection is now back on display and set to draw visitors from across the wider region.
Accordingly, in our Panelled Room (first floor), we have undertaken a redisplay of our collection, focussing on George Howard as artist, family man and patron of the The Pre-Raphaelites allowing visitors to continue to enjoy some of our pieces and ensuring that many of your favourite artists continue to be represented throughout. They include important works by Pre-Raphaelite artists and related Arts and Crafts Movement textiles, ceramics and metalwork. Highlights include four William Morris woven and printed textiles including ‘Dove and Rose’ a beautiful silk and wool textile woven by Alexander Morton in Carlisle, two studies of bird’s wings by Burne-Jones, which demonstrate his great skill as a draughtsman, ceramics from the Martin Brothers Art Pottery and metalwork by Archibald Knox.
Image: The Panelled Room, Old Tullie House
Old Tullie House includes the original Jacobean house, built in 1689, and retains some of the 17th Century features of the building including an impressive ground floor fireplace and a Jacobean oak staircase. Along the two staircases in Old Tullie House are hung portraits from our 18th and 19th century collections and works by Cumbrian artists. George Howard (9th Earl of Carlisle), William Rothenstein and Gordon Bottomley were largely responsible for establishing the unique collection at Tullie House.
The George Howard Gallery is fully accessible to visitors following a refurbishment funded by Carlisle City Council, the DCMS/Wolfson Galleries Improvement Fund, MLA Renaissance North West and the Friends of Tullie House. Because Old Tullie House is a Grade 1 listed building, it has not been possible to provide full access to the Panelled Room, which can only be reached via a staircase.
