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Harewood House in Leeds is celebrating the 250th anniversaries of two iconic figures in British culture—novelist Jane Austen (1775-1817) and painter JMW Turner (1775-1851)—with the exhibition Austen and Turner: A Country House Encounter. This landmark event explores the social and cultural life of the British country house during the Regency period, while commissioning contemporary artist Lela Harris and poet Rommi Smith to respond to the enduring legacies of Austen and Turner. The exhibition, a collaborative project between Harewood House Trust and the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies at the University of York, brings together a fascinating array of loaned artworks, manuscripts, and historical objects, many of which have never been exhibited outside the southeast of England.
The Exhibition: Bringing Austen and Turner Together
The exhibition juxtaposes the works of Austen and Turner, revealing their shared connections to the British country house and its global context. Turner’s relationship with Harewood began in 1797 when he was invited by the Lascelles family, owners of the estate. Harewood became a site of artistic experimentation for Turner, where he honed his skills in watercolour and landscape painting. Among the highlights are Turner’s North of England sketchbook—on loan from Tate—and his hand-made travelling watercolour paint set from the Royal Academy of Arts. Harewood’s own collection of early Turner paintings depicting the estate’s landscapes will also feature prominently.
Jane Austen’s connection to Harewood lies in her awareness of the Lascelles family, whose wealth was tied to Caribbean plantations and transatlantic slavery. Austen subtly referenced this in her novel Mansfield Park, where a character bears the Lascelles name. The exhibition includes rare handwritten manuscripts, such as Austen’s letters to her sister Cassandra (on loan from the British Library and Jane Austen’s House Museum) and the unfinished manuscript of her final novel, Sanditon (from King’s College Cambridge). First editions of her celebrated works, including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Mansfield Park, will also be displayed.
Contemporary Responses: Lela Harris and Rommi Smith
To complement the historical works, Harewood has commissioned two contemporary artists to engage with Austen and Turner’s legacies. Visual artist Lela Harris will create a new work inspired by Austen’s literary world, while poet and performer Rommi Smith will serve as Harewood’s Writer in Residence, responding to the exhibition’s themes through poetry. Both artists have a history of working with historic house collections to uncover hidden narratives, and their contributions promise to offer fresh perspectives on Austen and Turner’s enduring influence.
Exploring the Regency World
The exhibition also delves into the broader cultural and social context of the Regency period. Regency-era costumes, shoes, and ephemera from Harewood’s collection and other UK museums will be on display, alongside gadgets like Claude glasses and pocket telescopes that were popular among domestic tourists seeking the picturesque. These objects provide a vivid sense of the material culture of the time and the ways in which people engaged with the country house landscape.
Global Connections and Complex Histories
A significant aspect of the exhibition is its exploration of the country house within its global context. Rare depictions of the Lascelles family’s Caribbean plantations, loaned from Royal Museums Greenwich and the British Library, highlight the connections between the wealth of British estates and the transatlantic slave trade. Austen’s awareness of these issues, as reflected in Mansfield Park, adds a layer of complexity to her work and its relationship to the country house.
A Regency Season at Harewood
To accompany the exhibition, Harewood will host a Regency-themed season throughout 2025. Events include outdoor theatre performances of Pride and Prejudice, a lavish Regency Ball, candlelit concerts, and themed afternoon teas. Art workshops inspired by Turner will take place in the estate’s ‘Capability’ Brown landscape, catering to GCSE art students, toddlers, and even babies with sensory activities. These events aim to immerse visitors in the Regency world and provide a deeper understanding of the cultural milieu that shaped Austen and Turner’s work.
Curatorial Insights
Rebecca Burton, Curator and Archivist at Harewood House Trust, emphasizes the significance of bringing together these loaned works, many of which are being displayed in the North of England for the first time. She highlights the opportunity to tell new and surprising narratives about Austen and Turner, while also showcasing the creative innovation of contemporary artists like Lela Harris and Rommi Smith.
Professor Chloe Wigston Smith, Director of the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, notes that the country house is an ideal setting for exploring the cultural and creative history of the Regency period. Austen and Turner, she argues, offer unique perspectives on the country house, both in their time and in ours. The exhibition’s combination of visual, textual, and material elements promises to provide a rich and immersive experience for visitors.
Exhibition Details
Austen and Turner: A Country House Encounter will run from Friday, May 2, 2025, to Sunday, October 19, 2025, at Harewood House. Supported by Arts Council England and the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund, the exhibition is a must-see for fans of Austen, Turner, and the Regency period. For more information, visit harewood.org.
This exhibition not only celebrates the 250th anniversaries of two cultural giants but also invites visitors to reconsider the enduring legacies of Austen and Turner in the context of the British country house and its complex histories. Through a blend of historical artifacts and contemporary responses, Harewood House offers a unique opportunity to engage with the past and its relevance to the present.
