Catherine Parry-Wingfield to Explore Turner's Thames Legacy
Art historian giving talk hosted by the Chiswick Pier Trust
JMW Turner (left) and one of his views of the Thames (right)
November 6, 2025
To mark the 250th anniversary of J.M.W. Turner’s birth, the Chiswick Pier Trust will host a special evening lecture on Tuesday 25 November at 7pm, celebrating the artist’s deep connection to the River Thames and its surrounding landscapes.
The talk, titled JMW Turner and the ‘Matchless Vale of Thames’, will be delivered by renowned art historian Catherine Parry-Wingfield at The Pier House, Corney Reach Way, W4 2UG.
Catherine, a leading authority on Turner’s life and work, will guide audiences through the painter’s formative years along the Thames, focusing on the stretch between Isleworth, Richmond and Twickenham. It was here, in the early 19th century, that Turner rented riverside homes and eventually designed and built Sandycombe Lodge in 1813 — a modest retreat that allowed him to escape the pressures of the London art world and immerse himself in the natural beauty of the river.
The lecture will explore how Turner’s time in west London inspired some of his most celebrated works in oil and watercolour. The view from Richmond Hill, often cited as one of the most picturesque in England, was a recurring motif in his paintings and remains a protected landscape today. Turner’s depictions of the Thames — from tranquil morning scenes to dramatic cloudscapes — helped define the Romantic movement and cemented his reputation as Britain’s greatest landscape painter.
Catherine Parry-Wingfield has lectured widely for The Arts Society and the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Academy, and she was instrumental in the campaign to save Sandycombe Lodge. Now restored and open to the public from March to October, Turner’s House hosts annual exhibitions and educational programmes that celebrate the artist’s legacy. More information is available at www.turnershouse.org.
Doors to the event open at 6.30pm , with refreshments available for purchase. Tickets are priced at £5 and are free for Chiswick Pier Trust members. Booking is available online.
Events like this are organised by the Chiswick Pier Trust which works to engage people with the River Thames. It provides access to the Thames and supports major river events, as well as organising events of its own.
For information on Chiswick Pier Trust membership check the Chiswick Pier Trust's web site.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |