Petworth Park...through Turner’s eyes
Discover the views that inspired England’s greatest landscape painter, JMW Turner.
Beautiful landscape immortalised in Turner's paintings
Stroll around the glassy lake where the artist regularly fished, take in the view revealed in his painting ‘Dewy Morning’ and look out for the flaming yellow and orange foliage of acres, as well as vibrant red oaks and the red purple canopy of island-based liquid amber. Dogs are allowed in Petworth Park but not in the Pleasure Grounds.
Map
Start:
Petworth House car park, grid ref: SU974224
1
From the ticket machine in the Deer Park car park and with the Park wall on your left, walk through the gap in the low fence and continue down the grass path (keeping the wall to your left). Continue to reach the Lower Pond.
2
After an early morning sketch Turner would go fishing at Lower Pond. While the 3rd Earl of Egremont was used to this daily routine, it landed him in trouble at Tabley House in Cheshire. When commissioned by Sir John Leicester in 1809 for an oil painting of the lake there, he would often be found fishing mid-morning instead, and when pressed he responded that the sketch had already been completed! The finished painting was bought by the 3rd Earl on the death of Sir John, and can be found in the North Gallery in the House. You will still often find fishermen at Lower Pond where there are healthy pike, tench and carp populations. From the top end of Lower Pond any of the three paths towards Arbour Hill will lead you to Upper Pond. Follow the path to the right of Upper Pond, and stop shortly after the gate. You should have the two spring-fed Stew Ponds ahead of you and a lumpy grass hill on your right.
A moment of inspiration
This modern view of Upper Pond, as seen from Petworth House, inspired Turner (1775-1851) time and time again. Petworth House is home to 20 Turner oil paintings, the largest collection outside of the Tate.
3
Look across Upper Pond towards the House to see the scene from Turner’s oil painting entitled ‘Dewy Morning’, one of a set of four exhibited in the White Library in the House - this room is open occasionally to visitors, by kind permission of Lord and Lady Egremont. The paintings took over four years to complete due to Turner testing different subjects and compositions. From here walk across Mansion Lawn until you are roughly half way between Upper Pond and the House
Wildlife
Petworth Park is home to a herd of fallow deer, geese and numerous birds of prey. Look out for them on your walk.
4
From this position turn around to look back across the lake - this was the inspiration for ‘Sunset, Fighting Bucks’, which is currently located in the Carved Room in the House. If you visit us in late September or October the deer are often seen rutting very close to the House. From here you can either venture in to the Petworth House, home to 20 works by Turner, and Pleasure Ground through the iron gate beside the house or continue with your walk. Entry to the House and Pleasure Ground is free for National Trust members but entry prices apply for non-members. To continue with your walk heading further along Mansion Lawn and join a stone path beside the ha-ha built by Capability Brown.
Sunset, Fighting Bucks
The view you see today may differ slightly from that immortalised in Turner’s paintings, as Turner often drew from memory. After a quick pencil sketch he would complete the painting indoors, normally at his studio in London. He also painted an idealised view of the landscape and, finally, the park has grown in size since the early 19th century when Turner visited.
5
Continue up the hill along the stone path as it hugs the wall, as you reach the top follow the path down the hill and then continue to hug the walls of the Park until you reach the Lower Pond once more. From here retrace your steps back to the Deer Park car park.
End:
Petworth House car park, grid ref: SU974224
