Diane and Actaeon

Diane and Actaeon by Thomas Gainsborough,  owned by her Majesty the Queen.

Today I have spent a very exciting day at Gainsborough’s House, generally ‘being in evidence and ready for anything’ while preparations continue for Diane and Actaeon , an exhibition that opens on Saturday.

There are some really marvellous pictures in the show, including the above painting by Gainsborough of the classical scene of the goddess and her unfortunate admirer, together with our own preparatory drawing for the work. The painting, which belongs to the Royal Collection, was purchased by George IV when he was Prince of Wales.

It has been fascinating watching the experts, including our own Museum Assistant, Sophie, getting to grips with arranging and hanging the paintings, some of which are very large indeed.  It has also been interesting to meet representatives from the various galleries who have loaned pictures, all of whom have accompanied the works to Sudbury.

Including works by Renoir and Turner, as well as another ‘borrowed’ Gainsborough from the Tate Gallery, Diane and Actaeon promises to be a wonderful exhibition and I hope that as many of you as possible will manage to visit the House while it is on.

Busy hanging some of the smaller works