Cannon Hall's latest exhibition is simply 'pear' fect

Cannon Hall, Barnsley’s stunning Georgian Country House Museum, will be celebrating the opening of their latest exhibition ‘Pears and Apples’ on Saturday, 25 May.

Featuring the stunning work of Elisabeth Dowle, one of the worlds most respected and talented botanical artists, visitors are ‘core’dially invited to come along and see the collection of beautiful watercolours, which will be on display together for the very first time.

The exhibition is particularly unique in that it focuses entirely on fruit, rather than the traditional flowers or landscapes scenes. It will include twenty-five original pear watercolours and fifteen original apple watercolours. The botanical illustrations depict fruit variations such as the Buerre Hardy pear and the Worcester Pearmain apple, each one is painstakingly produced to provide the definitive point of reference for horticulturists, containing depictions of the fruit, blossom and leaf of the tree.

Cannon Hall - famous for its outstanding pear collection, is delighted to host such a prestigious and spectacular display of work, which was originally commissioned to feature in  Dr Joan Morgan’s ‘The Book of Pears’ and ‘The New Book of Apples’.

Elisabeth Dowle has been awarded seven Gold Medals by the Royal Horticultural Society and her work has been published in fifteen books, featured on porcelain, in calendars and on seed packets. Her paintings, one of which was presented to the Princess of Wales, are in many important private collections and institutions, and her "Ribston Pippin Apple" was selected for inclusion in the Highgrove Florilegium.

The exhibition is free to enter and will be on display in the impressive lower rooms of the Hall until Sunday, 3 November.

Cllr Tim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place (Regeneration and Culture) said:

Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens has always been a perfect spot for people to explore history and both inside the Hall and outside in the picturesque landscape.  The arrival of their latest exhibition brings together both of these stunning elements.  We are proud that Barnsley will be the first place to host this unique exhibition, that will not only appeal to horticulturalists and nature lovers but will also put a spotlight on their world class pear collection.