• 5 July 2019
  • 3:00 – 4:30 pm
  • Lecture Room, Paul Mellon Centre

Humphrey Waterfield, “Painter, Gardener, Scholar”, a talk by Martin Postle
Paul Mellon Centre

The talk explores the life and achievements of the artist and landscape gardener, Humphrey Waterfield. It coincides with the current Drawing Room Display at the Paul Mellon Centre, which uses material gifted to the Centre in 2017 from the collection of the distinguished scholar, museum director and writer, Giles Waterfield, who was the nephew of Humphrey Waterfield. In addition to exploring Humphrey Waterfield’s life as an artist, the talk will discuss the evolution of his pioneering garden, Hill Pasture, in Essex from the mid-1930s to Waterfield’s death in 1971, and the house he built there, designed by the Modernist architect, Sir Ernö Goldfinger. It will also refer to the garden Waterfield designed at the former home of his parents, the Clos du Peyronnet, near Menton on the French Riviera. Finally, the talk will highlight the key friendship in Waterfield’s life, with fellow gardening enthusiast, Nancy Tennant, who was a source of much that we know about his fascinating artistic and horticultural pursuits and passions.


This event is part of Bedford Square Festival. For the full list of events please visit www.bedfordsquarefestival.co.uk