The distingushed York painter William Etty and his connection to Pocklington and Givendale
Schedule
Thu Oct 20 2022 at 07:30 pm
Location
Pocklington Arts Centre | Beverley, EN
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A descendent of Yorkshire's greatest painter, William Etty RA, will talk about his ancestor at Pocklington Arts Centre on Thursday October 20 at 7.30 pm. Tom Etty is a direct descendent of William, who grew up in York and at Pocklington, and has researched the famous painter for many years. But his branch of the family settled in the Netherlands several generations ago, and Tom will be giving his talk the a Pocklington audience via a live link up from his home in Amsterdam.The talk was first arranged with Tom by the Pocklington & District Local History Group archivist, Andrew Sefton, almost three years ago before it fell victim to lockdown. Tom originally intended to travel to Pocklington back in early 2020, but after recent illness has decided to zoom across the North Sea by video link.
William Etty was born in York in 1787 and became renowned in the 19th century as Britain's greatest greatest painter of nudes, while spending much of his working life in London. But he also painted numerous landscapes and portraits, many of them of people and scenes from around York and Pocklington, including Givendale where he spent summers with the Singleton family. He is also noted for being a driving force behind the restoration of York Minster savin the city's Medieval walls from proposed demolition. He retired to York in 1848 and died there the following year, shortly after a major exhibition of his work at the Royal Academy.
He local East Riding roots tell an intriguing tale. His mother, Esther Calverley, was the sister of the squire and lord of the manor of Hayton, living in some splendor at the Queen Anne mansion, Hayton Hall. But when she fell in love with the older local miller, Matthew Etty, the pair were promptly driven out of Hayton by her brother. They fled to Pcklington where they married in All Saints church in 1771, starting a bakery business and where it is believed the first of their eleven children was born. The couple subsequently moved to York and established a mill and bakery, but in the 1790s William was sent to Pocklington to go to school, living with an uncle who was a Pocklington carpenter.
Tom Etty's talk is based on a 19th century virtual stagecoach journey by Etty from York to his brother's house in Hull; and featuring places on the way that he had connections with, including Barmby Moor where his nephew was the vicar. And it is particularly appropriate that the talk is being screened in Pocklington Arts Centre - 150 years ago the arts centre building was Pocklington's main doctor's surgery, and home to Etty's great friend, Dr Thomas Wilson MD. During his 19th century visits back to East Yorkshire to see friends and family, Etty spent many hours with Wilson in the doctor's house and gardens in Market Place . Admission to the talk is £3.
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Where is it happening?
Pocklington Arts Centre, Market Place,Pocklington, United Kingdom, BeverleyEvent Location & Nearby Stays: