A Celebration of a Society Painter - a talk on George Romney at Sizergh with Alex Kidson
National Trust, Sizergh Castle, Sizergh, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8AE
Arrive in the Lower Hall for a welcome drink before a talk from leading national expert Alex Kidson on Romney, followed by a Q&A.
Focusing on a young George Romney at Kendal, Sizergh and Lancaster between 1756-1765, this 45 minute talk will explore the early career of Romney and his connections to Sizergh and the local area. Several members of the Strickland family of Sizergh were among the leading patrons of George Romney when he was based in Kendal as a young man, learning to become a fashionable portrait painter before trying his fortune in London. This talk will discuss Romney's Strickland portraits in the context of other north-western commissions that he received concurrently, featuring a number of recent discoveries, and it will end by looking forward to how the artist's work changed on his exposure to metropolitan conventions of portraiture.
The talk will take place in Sizergh's Georgian Drawing Room, a location in the house which was remodelled by Cecilia Strickland, an early patron of Romney. This room is still evolving today, as we prepare to launch a re-hang of the Romney collection at Sizergh in March 2026.
Timings & Tours
- Thursday 18 September:
- 1800-1930
- Friday 19 September:
- 1800-1930
Location & directions
National Trust, Sizergh Castle, Sizergh, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8AE
- Directions:
- If travelling here by car, please park in the main visitor car park on arrival.
- Contact on day:
- Gina Tawn
- Telephone number:
- +441539569816
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking required
- Booking conditions:
- This event has a limited number of tickets. Please reserve your place by emailing the booking contact as stated here.
- Booking contact name:
- Gina Tawn
- Booking telephone number:
- +441539569816
- Booking email:
- [email protected]
- Booking opens:
- 17 Jun 2025 12:00 AM
- Booking closes:
- 31 Aug 2025 12:00 AM
Accessibility details
We regret that this event is not wheelchair accessible.
Additional information
The talk is free to attend with a complimentary drink on arrival. All donations toward the conservation and display of the paintings are gratefully received.
- Max no of people per tour:
- 20
- Est. tour duration:
- 1 hour(s) 15 minute(s)
