Flights of Fancy is a rare chance for bird enthusiasts and art lovers alike to explore this beautiful subject through remarkable displays of porcelain, paintings, drawings, prints and even our birds.
Inside the Manor, the exhibition features the life and work of the recently rediscovered Louis-Denis Armand (1723-1796), a painter at the world-famous Sèvres porcelain manufactory. Widely acknowledged as the most talented bird painter at Sèvres, his birds were initially ‘flights of fancy’, drawn from his wild imagination but as time went on, they gained ornithological accuracy. He also drew exotic birds from life, picking and choosing elements to combine and exaggerate.
Located at the Aviary, Tell it to the Birds by Jenny Kendler is a contemporary interactive, multisensory art installation, which invites you to tell a secret to the birds and hear your words translated into birdsong! This summer our carpet bedding brings to life Armand’s artistry. Inspired by Flights of Fancy, our gardens team have designed the carpet bedding at the Parterre and the Aviary to translate a drawing of two orioles into a bed of succulents. Perched nearby are the impressive 3D birds, who are showing off their wonderful fancy plumage.
22 May - 27 Oct. Free with house and grounds admission.