Eels, Pies, Picnics and Banquets

England’s great landscape painter, J.M.W. Turner, had a lovely country retreat at Sandycombe Lodge, near Twickenham. While Turner’s tastes in food were generally modest, making the most of the eels and fish he caught in the river Thames and the produce grown in his garden, the 18th century was actually a time of significant change for British food.

During Turner’s lifetime, the expansion of the British Empire and improved transport networks globalised food, bringing new luxuries to those who could afford them: tea, coffee, sugar, spices, and much more. This talk surveys Turner’s vibrant world of food. Don’t miss the chance to learn about the Macaroni Club’s pasta obsession, the first Hindustani coffee house in London, and how to get an invitation to the Picnic Academical Society!