The Journey in Colour showcased the vivid colours of The Bowes Museum’s extensive art collection.
It was a deep dive into colour by designers and artists using new technologies and traditional skills. Colourful installations, seen here for the first time, had been inspired by the artworks we care for. Responsive technologies encouraged ‘play’ with colour as hand-thrown porcelain vases – from ceramic artist Matt Wilcock (winner of The Great Pottery Throw Down) – made a nod to the great taste of our founders Joséphine and John Bowes.
This exhibition was inspired by the vivid colours of The Bowes Museum’s extensive art collection. The collection originates from many different parts of the world and was loved, admired and enjoyed by Museum founder Joséphine Bowes and her husband John. In the Journey in Colour exhibition, you discovered the colours of 80 objects because they were diligently analysed by a team of designers and artists from the UK and China. These designers and artists created new works of art, vases and lights entirely inspired by the colours they found in the art works here at The Bowes Museum.
As you visited the exhibition and wandered around the Museum’s galleries you would’ve undoubtedly see colours you love. We hope you enjoyed journeying into colour as much as we did and that you appreciated the colours of The Bowes Museum afresh.
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Portrait of Joséphine Bowes, Countess of Montalbo 1850. French School, Oil on canvas, Antoine Dury (1819-c.1896)
In this portrait the artist utilises a combination of light coloured tones to create a perception of elegance and status. Light and dark contrasts are dramatic and frequently used in paintings to create impact. Replacing light tones with dark colour tones would project an entirely different impression.
Study of Birch Trees, French School, Oil on canvas, Josephine Bowes (1825-1874)
Contrasts of light/dark and warm/cool are evident in the landscape where yellow tones contrast with greens and blues. Analogous contrasts, where colours located are beside each other on the colour wheel, are seen extensively in this study where some colours have a more significant presence than others.
Cabbage Tureen and Cover, c. 1750-75
This beautiful tureen has been created from an array of green tones and associated variants. Careful observation reveals its complexity and a realisation that environmental light and shade increases the range of colour relationships and the viewer’s perception.
A broad range of colours, selected from a multitude of locations on the Tureen led to the recognition of a series of tetradic colours. A tetradic colour relationship
involves four colours that create a rectangle or square on a colour wheel. They are generated where one colour is opposite a contrasting colour.
Still life: Plums, Melons, and Peaches 1642
French School, Oil on panel. Jacques Linard (1597-1645)
This still life painting utilises a warm and cool contrast. The warm tones of red, yellow and orange in the peaches and the melon sit alongside the cooler shades in elements such as the surrounding foliage. The tones of the plums combine both warm and cool features. Warm tones range from yellow to red-purple and cool tones range from yellow-green to purple.
Warm and cool tones impact on the perception of depth.
Apple Tureen and Cover, c. 1753-58
The tureen embraces a range of subtle colours with infinite variations in tone. The colours selected kick started an analogous colour exploration. The analogous colours are adjacent to the original colours of the Apple Tureen on the colour wheel so there is resemblance rather than conflict or contrast.
The Lost Bird, French School, Oil on panel, Charles Chaplin
The tones represented in this delicate painting, The Lost Bird, appear to be complementary at first. Numerous skin tones seem to complement the tones of the dress. Each effectively communicates the artist’s impression of the woman in the painting. The dress in the painting appears blue and presents a vision of elegance. Surprisingly, when analysed, the tones of the dress are not predominantly blue. What colour dress do you see?
Ship in a Stormy Sea, Oil on panel, 19th Century, Jean Baptiste Henri Durand-Brager
The dynamic and dominant painting demonstrates a contrast of light and dark. Although black and white are used in their extremes, contrasts in luminance can be achieved through a varied palette. A selection of colours from the painting have been paired with their complementary colours to extend the emotion.
Commode (Chest of drawers) with oriental lacquer panels c.1750, Oak, pine, bronze, gilt and lacquer
The birds, butterflies and flowers of the commode appear in predominantly warm tones against a dark ground. A range of colours selected from the detailing of this lacquered piece enabled analogous colours to be identified. Analogous colours are those adjoining the colours of the decorations on the commode and therefore they have many similar characteristics. Combined as a colour scheme the extended palette is harmonious and coordinated.
Dave Bramston, Artist & curator of Journey In Colour
Ye Li, Co-curator of Journey In Colour
Matt Wilcock, ceramic artist
Tech Artisan
While you book your ticket for the Journey in Colour exhibition, explore what The Bowes Museum grounds has to offer. A bite to eat at Café Bowes, a wander in the park... it's your day.
Enjoy unlimited entry to The Bowes Museum and temporary exhibitions all year around.
Discover wonders at every turn.
Colourful, seasonal tasty food and drinks in gorgeous surroundings.
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