Elizabeth & Stanhope Forbes A Marriage of Art

The new exhibition Elizabeth & Stanhope Forbes: A Marriage of Art opens at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum on Saturday 5 April and runs until Sunday 29 June 2025.

Featuring a sumptuous selection of artworks by the power couple of British Impressionism, Elizabeth and Stanhope Forbes, the exhibition includes intricate portraits and landscapes to lose yourself in, many on loan from Penlee House Gallery & Museum and visiting Worcester for the first time. Also featured is the local favourite by Stanhope Forbes from Worcester’s own collection; Chadding on Mounts Bay.
Elizabeth Forbes achieved international recognition for her idyllic landscape paintings and played a crucial role within the development of British Impressionism. However, conventional understandings of women artists during this period meant Elizabeth became overshadowed by her male contemporaries – a prejudice that, over time, has obscured her influence within this important history.
The couple are perhaps most famous for their formation of the ‘Newlyn School’ of painting, which brought together like-minded artists and eager students keen to paint en plein air (in the open air) and played a pivotal role in the development of British Impressionism.
One of the most beloved paintings in Worcester City’s Fine Art collection is Chadding on Mounts Bay by Stanhope Forbes. Stanhope painted landscapes en plein air with a particular skill for capturing light and reflection.
This exhibition illustrates Elizabeth’s place within the vanguard of British Impressionism, her relationship of equal partnership with Stanhope Forbes, and her interest as an artist in her own right who drew much praise at a time when it was often the fate of women artists to be remembered as largely an appendage of their more famous husband.
Worcester has a strong collection of British Impressionist works and in 2026 will be opening a permanent gallery dedicated to British Impressionism; the Shirley and Rolf Olsen Gallery. The new gallery will have a clear focus on Worcestershire’s relationship with British Impressionism; how the city was both influenced by non-local artists and had an impact upon British art.
Deborah Fox, Museums Worcestershire Senior Curator commented: “Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum is committed to bringing great art and artists to the city. We are very excited to celebrate these two incredible artists who were the leading lights in British impressionism.”
The exhibition runs from 5 April – 29 June at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum. The Art Gallery & Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 3pm. Tickets for the exhibition can be booked at www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk

Image Credit: Autumn Breeze, Elizabeth Forbes, courtesy of Penlee House Gallery & Museum