Sotheby’s has launched the first episode of its new 13-part “Treasures from Chatsworth” film series. Conceived and produced by Sotheby’s and presented by Huntsman, the series celebrates the Cavendish family’s centuries-long passion for art and collecting.Chatsworth is the seat of the 12th Duke of Devonshire and has been home to the Cavendish family since 1549. The Cavendish family has commissioned and collected contemporary art for over 16 generations, and continues to do so to this day.“Treasures from Chatsworth” explores the diverse range of artworks in the Devonshire Collection, with insights into their history and significance from the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire as well as curators, keepers, and contemporary artists such as Michael Craig-Martin, and Jacob van der Beugel.Episode 1 – “Lucian Freud’s ‘Woman in a White Shirt’” – centres on Lucian Freud’s 1956–57 portrait of the then 38-year-old Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, which was commissioned by the 11th Duke of Devonshire and caused quite the stir in British society because of its unorthodox style.The Duke of Devonshire said that the “Treasures from Chatsworth” series not only provides new insights into Chatsworth, but also into collecting art and the extraordinary process of working with contemporary artists – something that the Duke says gives him great pleasure.“We're absolutely thrilled to be collaborating on a further exciting and unexpected way for a house such as Chatsworth to share its art with the public. I enjoyed being involved in the making of this series immensely, and hope you'll enjoy the results,” the Duke said.David Goodman, Executive Vice President, Digital Development & Marketing for Sotheby’s, explained that each episode takes the viewer on a journey where they are led on an intimate journey that explores treasures both little-known and best loved in the collection.“Access to extraordinary places and exceptional art, objects, history, expertise and stories is in Sotheby’s DNA, and this series is an extension of this in a form we very much hope you’ll enjoy -the first of many original films that will reveal the wonder of art and collecting,” said Goodman.Episodes Released on 28th November: Episode 1- Lucian Freud’s Woman in a White Shirt A portrait of Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, commissioned from Lucian Freud, caused a sensation in British society. Now Woman in a White Shirt is “probably the most beautiful thing at Chatsworth,” says the current Duke, who recalls the close friendship between Freud and the Cavendish family in the series premiere of Treasures from Chatsworth, Presented by Huntsman.Released on 6th December: Episode 2 - Commissioning Artworks Across Generations There is a rich history of patronage at Chatsworth, which is filled with works commissioned directly from artists of their time, be it the early 19th century or the early 21st. This episode explores the relationship of trust between the artist and their commissioner, highlighting Jacob Van der Beugel’s 2014 DNA Wall and Antonio Canova’s Sleeping Endymion, made almost exactly 200 years earlier.Released on 6th December: Episode 3 - Leonardo Da Vinci’s Drawing of Leda and the Swan We take you inside the Old Master cabinet at Chatsworth – a room usually closed to the public – where one of the world’s finest and most extensive collections of Old Master drawings is kept. Among these is a Leonardo da Vinci that was almost lost in the chaos of the Second World War.Released on 13th December: Episode 4 - The Lewinski Photo Archive Between 1940 to 1970, photographer Jorge Lewinski took hundreds of images of important postwar artists in their studios: Francis Bacon, Bridget Riley, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore among many others. “He recorded people, but he did it in such a way that gave you so much of an insight into the artist’s way of being,” says the Earl of Burlington, who acquired the Lewinski Archive for Chatsworth. In this episode, the Earl explains that the passion for art that he inherited from his ancestors has inspired him to become not only a collector himself but also an artist.Released on 13th December: Episode 5 - The Needlework of Elizabethan Chatsworth A rare depiction of the original Chatsworth House from around 1550 provides a vital connection to the past. Hundreds of years from now, visitors will look to Johnny Warrender’s many renderings of Chatsworth and its gardens for a 21st-century view of the house and its surroundings as well as a window onto the interests and enthusiasms of the current Duke and Duchess.Released on 20th December: Episode 6: Jan Van Der Vaardt’s Trompe l’oeil Violin There are certain artworks that we feel an emotional connection to and to which we return again and again. Among the many such beloved pictures at Chatsworth, one in particular stands out: Jan Van Der Vaardt’s Trompe l’oeil Violin. Episode 6 reveals the mysterious history of this all-time favourite.Released on 20th December Episode 7 - The Landscape as a Work of Art At Chatsworth, the Devonshire Collection extends beyond the walls of the house. Throughout the gardens and grounds, carefully curated sculptures are thoughtfully integrated with the landscape – “it’s like one amazing piece of land art,” says the 12th Duke. Take a tour of the picturesque setting that has been shaped over time by generations of dukes and duchesses.Released on 27th December: Episode 8 - The Changing Face of Portraiture From the earliest days at Chatsworth, the dukes and duchesses have commissioned Britain’s greatest artists to capture their likenesses. Among the most celebrated of these is Thomas Gainsborough’s depiction of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Learn about the famously extravagant Duchess and see an innovative contemporary portrait of Lady Burlington.Released on 27th December: Episode 9 - Design Through the Ages: The Counterpart Bench and George III Coronation Chair Form and function go hand-in-hand in great furnishings, whether antiques of royal provenance or cutting-edge creations by today’s most innovative makers. As this episode reveals, at Chatsworth, functional objects have always been valued for both their beauty and their utility.
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