Garden Museum Exhibition Celebrates Benton End's Creative Legacy
The Garden Museum in London will host 'Benton End: A Paradise of Pollen and Paint' from 2 June to 20 September, exploring the creative legacy of the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing at Benton End, a Tudor manor in Suffolk. The school operated there from 1940 to the 1970s, founded by artists Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines, who combined art with horticulture. Notable students included Lucian Freud and Maggi Hambling. The exhibition, curated by Patricia Hardy, features immersive reconstructions, original objects, and highlights six key figures: Morris, Lett, Freud, Joan Warburton, Elizabeth David, and Beth Chatto. A centerpiece is 'Man in Black Scarf' (1939), a portrait attributed to Freud on BBC's 'Fake or Fortune?' in 2016, exhibited publicly for the first time. The Garden Museum acquired Benton End in 2021 and plans a £5m restoration. The walled garden reopens this summer.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Benton End: A Paradise of Pollen and Paint' runs 2 June–20 September at Garden Museum, London.
- East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing operated at Benton End from 1940 to 1970s.
- Founders Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines combined art and horticulture.
- Lucian Freud studied at the school; a portrait attributed to him ('Man in Black Scarf', 1939) is exhibited for first time.
- Other notable students include Maggi Hambling.
- Exhibition curated by Patricia Hardy; features immersive reconstructions and original objects.
- Garden Museum acquired Benton End in 2021; plans £5m capital project for restoration.
- Benton End's walled garden reopens to visitors this summer.
Entities
Artists
- Lucian Freud
- Cedric Morris
- Arthur Lett-Haines
- Maggi Hambling
- Joan Warburton
- Elizabeth David
- Beth Chatto
Institutions
- Garden Museum
- East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing
- Pinchbeck Charitable Trust
- Tate
- Slade School of Fine Art
- Gainsborough's House
- BBC
Locations
- London
- Suffolk
- Benton End
- Dedham
- United Kingdom