New Book Shines a Light on ‘Chatsworth, Arcadia, Now’
UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / November 07, 2021 / The gleaming exterior of Chatsworth House, its stone facade cleaned and its window frames freshly gilded with gold leaf, is testament to a decade-long programme of comprehensive renovations completed by the current Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
A new book, ‘Chatsworth, Arcadia, Now’, captures the house at a moment of high optimism, recording the grandest of English country houses in more than 400 new colour photographs with rare access given to its exteriors, interiors and collections. With text by the acclaimed art historian and author John-Paul Stonard (see notes to editors) and fresh, modern photography by Victoria Hely-Hutchinson, the book features extensive contributions from the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
“The overriding impression of Chatsworth is one of peace. The house is entirely benign, the views are wonderfully calm, and a sense of optimism prevails. We are constantly aware of the layers of time and history” – The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
(High quality images downloadable via this link. All copyright Victoria Hely-Hutchinson)
A strikingly modern portrait, the book tells the story of Chatsworth through seven scenes from its 500-year history and that of the dynasty that has shaped it. Set in an unspoilt Derbyshire valley, it is surrounded by moorland and home to the Cavendish family for sixteen generations yet its timelessness is an illusion, Chatsworth is in constant state of change and innovation. As the current, 12th Duke of Devonshire likes to point out: 'Everything was new once.'
From the 1st Duke, whose political allegiance brought William of Orange to the throne, Chatsworth has been a place of revolution. This treasure house is filled with an extraordinarily eclectic collection of art and objects - from Nicolas Poussin's Et in Arcadia Ego and Antonio Canova's Endymion, to installations by Jacob van der Beugel and site-specific ceramics by Edmund de Waal.
Chatsworth is not afraid to take risks and challenge more than 600,000 annual visitors with the startlingly new. Its pioneering displays by artists such as Damien Hirst, Linder Sterling, David Hockney, Lucian Freud, and exhibitions of monumental contemporary sculpture in the 105-acre garden have challenged preconceptions of the country estate.
‘Chatsworth, Arcadia, Now’ by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire with John-Paul Stonard, and photography by Victoria Hely-Hutchinson is published in hardback by Particular Books in October 2021, priced £50.00.
Key features include:
- 400 new colour photographs that depict Chatsworth in a fresh, modern style by Victoria Hely-Hutchinson, who has worked with Stella McCartney and Vogue
- A complete reinvention of the “country house book” genre
- Text by John-Paul Stonard, celebrated art historian and author.
About Us
John-Paul Stonard is an art historian and author. His books include Creation, Art Since the Beginning, Germany Divided, Baselitz and his Generation and, as editor and contributor, The Books that Shaped Art History. He co-curated the 2014 exhibition Kenneth Clark: Looking for Civilisation at Tate Britain. His writing has appeared in the London Review of Books, the Times Literary Supplement, the Guardian and The Burlington Magazine. He lives in Suffolk.
Chatsworth is home to the Devonshire family, and is located in the Peak District National Park. The house, many of its contents and much of the surrounding landscape are leased to a registered charity, the Chatsworth House Trust. The Duke and Duchess pay rent to the charity to live at Chatsworth and work with the charity and others to welcome Chatsworth’s visitors.
Every penny of visitor admission goes directly to the Chatsworth House Trust, which is dedicated to the long-term preservation of Chatsworth House, the collections, garden, woodlands and park for the long-term benefit of the public. The charity promotes the study and appreciation of Chatsworth as a place of historic, architectural and artistic interest and of natural beauty, and encourages the use and enjoyment of Chatsworth by visitors for education and recreation.
Chatsworth won Gold in the Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Awards 2020, designed to recognise excellence and outstanding achievement in the area's valuable tourism sector, which is worth over £2.3 billion.
Chatsworth is a member of the Treasure Houses of England, 10 of the most magnificent palaces, stately homes and castles in England. www.treasurehouses.co.uk
Chatsworth is part of the Devonshire Group, which comprises the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire’s interests, charities and businesses throughout the UK, including Chatsworth which sits within the Derbyshire Estate, Bolton Abbey Estate in Yorkshire, and Lismore Estate in Ireland.
Chatsworth is only 10 miles from Chesterfield train station, 14 miles from Sheffield train station, 16 miles from the M1, and is well served by regional bus services.
Follow Chatsworth on social media:
Facebook: @ChatsworthHouse
Instagram: @ChatsworthOfficial
Twitter: @ChatsworthHouse
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