Floor Talk at Maud Gallery: Gordon De'Lisle Photography, Family, and the Victorian Imagination

Join us at Maud Gallery for a captivating floor talk as part of the Gordon De’Lisle exhibition (May 31 - June 8, 2025) —an intimate exploration of artistic legacy, innovation, and an extraordinary family tree.

Alongside a deep dive into Gordon De’Lisle’s photographic work, this talk reveals his remarkable ancestral link to Julia Margaret Cameron, one of the most influential early photographers of the 19th century.

Julia Margaret Cameron—Gordon's great-great-aunt—was famed for her emotive portraits and soft-focus technique, counting Tennyson, Darwin, and Herschel among her subjects. She helped define photography as a fine art form at a time when it was still a novelty.

The talk will trace the indomitable spirit of the Pattle sisters—Julia, Sara, and Virginia—whose unconventional lifestyle, artistic flair, and social rebellion fascinated and scandalized Victorian society. Lord Dalhousie once quipped he divided people into “men, women, and Pattles.”

We’ll also touch on the curious intersections of history, including a family link to Alice Liddell, the real-life muse for Alice in Wonderland.

Expect a rich conversation on photography, heritage, and the creative women who shaped visual culture long before their time.

Register your interest via email: bWF1ZGNyZWF0aXZlIHwgbWF1ZC1jcmVhdGl2ZSAhIGNvbQ==

Also check out other Arts events in Newstead, Exhibitions in Newstead, Fine Arts events in Newstead.