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)
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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.
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