Soane and Turner: Architecture, Art, Friendship and Fishing

Dr Matthew Morgan & Clare Gough
Sir John Soane and JMW Turner were idiosyncratic and unique talents, creating works that, to this day, inspire pleasure and wonder.

About the talk

Sir John Soane and JMW Turner were idiosyncratic and unique talents, creating works that, to this day, inspire pleasure and wonder.

Although a generation apart, they formed a firm friendship. Turner was a guest at Pitzhanger and Soane, in turn, influenced Turner’s designs for his country house, Sandycombe Lodge. The two men bonded over their fascination with light, the role of the classics in art and their love of fishing. This talk explores an important kind of love, male friendship, and discusses the influence it had on both men.

About the speakers

This talk was given by two speakers: Dr Matthew Morgan is part-time Museum Director of Turner’s House in Twickenham and is an Associate Lecturer at Birkbeck, University of London, from where he also received his PhD in Museum Studies. He has worked in the heritage sector for 10 years, including at the Royal Collection and the National Gallery. Prior to that he was a Director at Christie’s.

Clare Gough is Director of Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, Sir John Soane’s ‘country’ house in Ealing, West London and its adjacent contemporary gallery. Clare’s career combines experience of the arts and commercial sectors. She was previously a Trustee of the Museum of the Home, Director of Communications at the National Gallery, and New Media Director at National Gallery Co. Ltd, before setting up an arts consultancy working with the V&A and other institutions.

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