Towneley Hall painting to go out on loan

One of Towneley Hall's best-loved paintings is getting ready to go on loan to a gallery in Margate, Kent.
The paintingThe painting
The painting

Destiny by John William Waterhouse is having some conservation work done by a team of experts before it goes on display at Turner Contemporary at the end of May.

The work so far has included examining the painting and checking the size of the acrylic glazing, which will be placed in the front of the painting.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Transparent glazing will be put on in the next couple of weeks which will prevent damage done during Destiny’s travel to and from Margate and while on display.

The painting will be one of more than 50 important works to go on display as part of Seeing Round Corners exhibition, which starts on Saturday, 21st May.

Towneley Hall manager Ken Darwen said: “We are delighted to loan this popular painting to Turner Contemporary for their exhibition, which is the first of its kind in the UK, exploring how artists have responded to the phenomenon of the circle, the disc or the sphere.

“Destiny is one of the earliest acquisitions by Towneley Hall in 1905 and has been admired by many visitors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The painting is currently on display and I’d like to encourage people to come along to see it before it goes on loan.”

The 68.6 x 54.6 cm oil on canvas painting features a girl drinking a toast to the departing warriors, whose ships can be seen in a round mirror in the background. 

It was painted in 1900 for the Artists’ War Fund in support of British casualties of the South Africa (Boer) War.

Seeing Round Corners exhibition at Turner Contemporary explores the ways in which artists have used this universal and recurring form, and the very idea of ‘roundness’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It showcases pieces of artwork, presenting a variety of processes and media including painting, sculpture, film and photography, alongside design objects and historical artefacts.

Destiny will return home to Towneley Hall after the Seeing Round Corners exhibition draws to a close in September.

Related topics: