Capture the Castle

This is the first ever large-scale art exhibition on the subject of British castles. Steeped in history and legend, these extraordinary buildings exude a powerful and brooding presence. Turner, Constable, Girtin, Cotman, Ibbetson, Sandby, Varley and many others travelled to castles throughout Britain in search of the Picturesque. Castles, often sited in spectacular locations, were the perfect subject for the Romantic movement of the early 19th century that embraced the heroic past. The Gothic Revival was to spawn a new wave of castle building. Showcasing the finest historic and contemporary castle artists and combining history with art, this exhibition conjures the mystique, excitement and prestige of the castle from Iron Age hill forts to Victorian reproductions and fantasy castles. It will include famous and rarely seen works from public and private collections, including loans from the Tate, British Museum and the V & A.