Salisbury Museum exhibition of artist Rex Whistler

The exhibition, "Rex Whistler: The Artist and His Patrons", will run from Monday, May 27 to Sunday, September 29 and promises to be a voyage through time, shedding light on the relationships between an artist and his patrons during the vibrant interwar period.

Rex Whistler was a British artist who operated during the interwar period, with a diverse portfolio of work spanning portraiture, murals, book illustrations and set design.

Through 13 captivating case studies across nearly 100 pieces, visitors to the exhibition will discover the key relationships pivotal to Whistler's career, including art collector and poet Edward James, Cecil Beaton, Duff and Diana Cooper, avid diarist and socialite Sir Henry ‘Chips’ Channon, Lord and Lady Louis Mountbatten, author and poet Lady Dorothy Wellesley, and Sir Philip Sassoon MP.

Central to the exhibition is Whistler’s ‘lost’ masterpiece, the incredible "Ulysses’ Farewell to Penelope", gifted from Whistler to Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Bullock, giving visitors the chance to once again marvel at this astonishing picture which was for decades referred to as ‘whereabouts unknown’.

READ MORE: Redlynch and Hale's season off to a flying start thanks to openers

Also displayed is the extraordinary original design for "The Triumph of Neptune" carpet commissioned by poet and art collector Edward James in 1935. 

Museum Director Adrian Green said: ‘The exhibition is based on the Rex Whistler Archive which we acquired in 2013. The archive was assembled by Laurence Whistler after his brother’s death and is an incredibly rich resource for anybody interested in Whistler’s life and career, and indeed early 20th century art.

Salisbury is said to be a highly influential place for Whistler, ultimately serving to shape his success as an artist.

The exhibition will be accompanied by exhibition curator Dr Nikki Frater’s book "Rex Whistler: The Artist and His Patrons," bringing together her 20 years of knowledge and research on the life and work of Whistler.

Published by Paul Holberton, the book will be available to purchase from The Salisbury Museum shop.

Dr Nikki Frater said: “Rex Whistler’s story is intricately woven into the fabric of Salisbury’s rich tapestry, making The Salisbury Museum the perfect stage for this extraordinary showcase.”

Admission is included in the normal ticket price for the museum.

For more information, visit: https://salisburymuseum.org.uk