On his estate of Hafod Uchtryd in Cardiganshire, Thomas Johnes (1748-1816) created not only the most elaborate house ever built in the county, but also developed around it one of the most ambitious and influential picturesque landscapes ever created. At Hafod, Johnes developed an important art collection and library, pioneered agricultural improvements and planted millions of trees. Here, according to Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick in 1808, ‘art and nature have combined to produce the most astonishing place in the principality.’ This Gardens Trust online talk on December 19 at 2 pm gives an overview of the Hafod estate, its history and its place in the picturesque movement, with a focus on the lavish Derby porcelain dessert service commissioned by Johnes in 1787 as a record and celebration of his achievements there. Using the surviving elements of the Derby service as a tour guide, the talk also illustrates the pleasurable and often dramatic experience of exploring the walking routes that Johnes created through the wild landscape of the upper reaches of the river Ystwyth.

Andrew Renton has worked in the Art department at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales since July 1999, first as Head of Applied Art, then as Keeper of Art 2015-2021, before recently taking on the new role of Head of Design Collections. Prior to that, he was a curator of applied art at National Museums Liverpool. His curatorial interests are wide-ranging, but at Cardiff he has focused in particular on modern and contemporary applied art, and on historic silver and Welsh ceramics. He was lead curator of the Museum’s exhibition of Japanese art and design in 2018, Kizuna: Japan | Wales | Design.

This ticket is for this individual session and costs £5 – register through Eventbrite HERE.