JOSÉPHINE AND JOHN BOWES
Standing proudly in the heart of Teesdale, The Bowes Museum is the vision of a pioneering woman, Joséphine Bowes and her husband John.
The John and Joséphine Galleries at The Bowes Museum
Portrait of Joséphine Bowes (1825–1874), Countess of Montalbo by Antoine Dury
Portrait of John Bowes, Esq. (1811–1885) by Jacques Eugène Feyen
I lay the bottom stone, and you,
Mr Bowes, will lay the top stone.
Mr Bowes, will lay the top stone.
Josephine Bowes
A businessman and the son of an Earl, John met Joséphine when he bought the Théâtre De Variétés in Paris, where she was an actress and they married in 1852.
Joséphine, an accomplished artist, indulged her passion for collecting and became a patron of the arts. In 1862 she decided to sell John's wedding gift to her, their home in France, to start their Museum project so they could share their love of art with the people of Teesdale, near John’s family home.
Sadly neither of them lived to see their Museum open to the public in 1892.
Joséphine, an accomplished artist, indulged her passion for collecting and became a patron of the arts. In 1862 she decided to sell John's wedding gift to her, their home in France, to start their Museum project so they could share their love of art with the people of Teesdale, near John’s family home.
Sadly neither of them lived to see their Museum open to the public in 1892.
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