House, Gardens & Cafe Open Tuesday - Sunday 10.30 - 17.00

Exhibition: Drawn to Nature: Gilbert White and the Artists

23rd August-11th December 2022

Gilbert White’s House and Gardens are delighted to be showcasing ‘Drawn to Nature: Gilbert White and the Artists‘ a display of art works by contemporary artists inspired by Gilbert White’s work and commissioned by Pallant House Gallery for their successful 2020 exhibition of the same name.

In ‘Drawn to Nature’, Simon Martin, Director of Pallant House Gallery, gathered and commissioned joyful and beautiful images of the extraordinary array of wildlife described by White, providing an insight into the continuing appeal and relevance of The Natural History of Selborne. Pallant House Gallery have kindly loaned the museum works by artists such as Mark Herald and Angie Lewin. The exhibition will also feature prints from the museum’s own collection which featured in the exhibition.

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    Gilbert Whites House

    Gilbert White was aged 7 or 8 when the White family moved from the Vicarage on Selborne’s Plestor, to this house, called ‘The Wakes’ (named after the Wake family who had lived here previously). At that time the property would have been no more than a ‘two up, two down’  but over the subsequent years lots of extensions and additions have been made, creating the long sizeable house you see today.

    The rooms have been restored following descriptions in White’s own correspondence and include a chair he used at Oriel College, Oxford (loaned from the College), items of contemporary furniture, family portraits and bed hangings embroidered for him by his aunts.

    On display is the original manuscript of his book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, which was purchased with generous help from English Heritage and others.

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