Harewood at Twilight: A Unique Experience at a Very Special Place Thursday 16th May

Harewood House, Orpheus on the Terrace at Sunset,
credit Harewood House Trust

Thursday 16th May, 6pm – 9.30pm

The inspiring after-hours phenomenon ‘Museums at Night’ comes to Harewood House, Leeds, on 16th May for an evening of special interest tours, talks and demonstrations. Experience this beautiful 18th century House at dusk, with refreshments on the magnificent Terrace at sunset, and watch the Red Kites soaring overhead.

Enjoy specialist talks including a close-up look at Chippendale’s finest creation, The Diana and Minerva Commode, ’Candlelight at Harewood’ will reveal the twilight-delights of Harewood pre-electricity with insights into housekeeping, facts and more, and there are demonstrations in the historic Old Kitchen ‘Below Stairs’ in the style of the great French chef Louis Lecompte, who was Head Chef at Harewood in the late 19th Century creating menus and catering for up to 30 family members a day, to complete the circle of entertaining in style at Harewood.

The noted physiognomist Johann Caspar Lavater (1741-1801) returns for one night only at Museums at Night to give instruction in the noble art of ‘Shades’ in the Silhouette Portraiture workshop. Using a replica silhouette chair as designed by Lavater and Goethe, try your hand at creating your own black and white miniature portrait to take home.

The grand Main Staircase in the House will be revealed at twilight for the first time in over forty years. The first paying visitors to Harewood House came in the 1950s but the impressive private staircase hasn’t been on public view since. The breathtaking staircase was designed by John Carr of York and features magnificent ceiling and ornamental plasterwork by Joseph Rose and William Collins and wonderful Chippendale furnishing.

Find out more about ‘In Cloud Country’ from Head of House and Collections, Anna Robinson who will introduce this major new exhibition at Harewood, co-curated by Diane Howse, Countess of Harewood, and Iwona Blazwick Director of London’s Whitechapel Gallery. It includes works on paper by some of our most worlds’ most acclaimed artists; John Constable, Thomas Girtin, Henri Matisse, Henry Moore, Edgar Degas, Joan Miro, William Morris, Julian Opie, Chris Ofili, J.M.W. Turner and Rachel Whiteread, including pieces chosen from the Harewood Collection.

Don’t miss this exclusive after-hours culture event - book your place for just £5 (£8 on the evening)

To book tickets call the Box Office on 0113 218 1000 or visit www.harewood.org/museumsatnight