Ask for the famous artists of Calke Abbey and you will hear of Thomas Hudson, Frederick Calvert, Charles Cooper Henderson and George Turner.
Below, the 14 best-known of the 53 artists with works of Calke Abbey in our catalogue (85 works), each with what the museum holds of them.
The masters of the originals
The 10 masters whose originals hang in Calke Abbey
For each master: where and when they were born, their movement, how many originals the museum keeps in our catalogue, a note from their life, and the originals to see.
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Neoclassicism
1. Thomas Hudson 1701–1779
1701–1779 Born in Devon, United Kingdom Neoclassicism 2 originals at Calke Abbey
English portraitist of the 18th century known for elegant, refined depictions of status and detailed textures in fabric and drapery. A controversial marriage followed, as Hudson wed Richardson’s daughter before 1725, despite his mentor's disapproval.
Originals at Calke Abbey
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2. Frederick Calvert 1731–1771
1731–1771 Born in Epsom, United Kingdom 2 originals at Calke Abbey
Frederick Calvert, born in Epsom, United Kingdom, in 1731, entered a world steeped in privilege and responsibility. While his lineage provided financial security and social standing, it was his own passion that fueled his dedication to capturing the beauty of the English countryside and maritime scenes.
Originals at Calke Abbey
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Romanticism
3. Charles Cooper Henderson 1803–1877
1803–1877 Born in Abbey House, United Kingdom Romanticism 3 originals at Calke Abbey
Born on June 14, 1803, at Abbey House in Chertsey, Surrey, Henderson dedicated his life to capturing the dynamism and romance of equestrian pursuits, particularly the golden age of coaching. Though initially steered towards a legal career with studies at Winchester School, it was under the tutelage of Samuel Prout that young Charles found his true calling – painting. It was the unexpected inheritance following his mother's death in 1850 that truly liberated him.
Originals at Calke Abbey
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Romanticism
4. George Turner 1841–1910
1841–1910 Born in Cromford, United Kingdom Romanticism 3 originals at Calke Abbey
The breadth of Turner’s oeuvre is staggering, comprising over 600 watercolors and numerous oil paintings that serve as a visual archive of a bygone era.
Originals at Calke Abbey
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Baroque
5. Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen 1593–1661
1593–1661 Born in London, United Kingdom Baroque 2 originals at Calke Abbey
While details of his earliest training remain somewhat elusive, it is widely believed he received foundational instruction in the Netherlands, potentially under the guidance of Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt. By around 1618, Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen had firmly established himself as a portrait painter in London.
Originals at Calke Abbey
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6. Joseph Horlor 1809–1887
1809–1887 Born in United Kingdom 2 originals at Calke Abbey
Victorian landscape painter of Welsh coastal scenes and misty riverbanks, using Dutch-inspired tonal palettes and subtle atmospheric light. Though biographical records from his later years are somewhat sparse, the impact of Horlor’s vision remains etched in the history of British landscape painting.
Originals at Calke Abbey
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Romanticism
7. John Glover 1767–1849
1767–1849 Born in Houghton on the Hill, United Kingdom Romanticism 3 originals at Calke Abbey
John Glover, born February 18, 1767, in the tranquil Leicestershire countryside of England, possessed an innate artistic sensibility that blossomed early in life. In 1805, he became a member of the prestigious Old Water Colour Society, quickly ascending to the position of president in 1807.
Originals at Calke Abbey
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Romanticism
8. Sawrey Gilpin 1733–1807
1733–1807 Born in Carlisle, United Kingdom Romanticism 4 originals at Calke Abbey
Born in 1733 in the rugged landscape of Carlisle, Cumbria, Gilpin emerged during a transformative era when the Romantic movement began to breathe new life into the depiction of nature. The evolution of Gilpin’s style was significantly shaped by his time in London, where he studied under the esteemed Samuel Scott at Covent Garden.
Originals at Calke Abbey
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Romanticism
9. Ramsay Richard Reinagle 1775–1862
1775–1862 Born in London, United Kingdom Romanticism 3 originals at Calke Abbey
Born in London to Philip Reinagle RA, himself a celebrated animal and landscape artist, Ramsay inherited a lineage steeped in artistic tradition, shaping his own career under the and watchful eye of his father’s influence. Upon his return home, Reinagle’s career took an extraordinary turn toward the immersive.
Originals at Calke Abbey
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10. Gabrielle Ricciardelli 1743–1782
1743–1782 Born in Naples, Italy 2 originals at Calke Abbey
Born in Naples to an engraver and landscape painter, Giuseppe Ricciardelli, the artist’s very foundation was rooted in the traditions of topographical precision and scenic beauty.
Originals at Calke Abbey
The masters, continued
No. 11 to No. 14: more masters of Calke Abbey
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11. John Nost Sartorius
Neoclassicism
1759–1828 · born in London, United Kingdom · 3 originals at Calke Abbey
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12. Thomas Weaver
1774–1843 · born in Kingdom of Great Britain · 11 originals at Calke Abbey
- A Prize Sheep by a Shelter (1817)
- A Prize Bull in front of Calke Church (1821)
- A Shearling Sheep (1830)
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13. Edwin Cooper
1785–1833 · born in Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom · 3 originals at Calke Abbey
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14. F. M. Hollams
1877–1963 · born in United Kingdom · 3 originals at Calke Abbey
- A Roan Horse (1930)
- A Chestnut Thoroughbred called 'Enterprise' (1930)
- 'Olympia' with Derek up (1931)
The house in figures
The masters of Calke Abbey, in figures
The masters with the most originals at Calke Abbey
Masters with two originals or more, by century of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by country of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by movement
Women masters
The women whose originals hang in Calke Abbey
2 women masters, 4 originals, in our catalogue of Calke Abbey.
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F. M. Hollams
1877–1963 · born in United Kingdom · 3 originals at Calke Abbey
- A Roan Horse (1930)
- A Chestnut Thoroughbred called 'Enterprise' (1930)
- 'Olympia' with Derek up (1931)
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Fanny McIan
1814–1897 · born in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland · 1 originals at Calke Abbey
- 'Exiles from Erin' (1838)
Asked of us
Questions on the masters of Calke Abbey
Open a question to read the answer.
Who is the best-known artist of Calke Abbey?
Thomas Hudson (1701–1779): our catalogue holds 2 works by Thomas Hudson at Calke Abbey, among them Lady Lucy Manners and The Three Sons of Sir Henry Harpur. Frederick Calvert and Charles Cooper Henderson follow.
Which Thomas Hudson works are in Calke Abbey?
2 works by Thomas Hudson at Calke Abbey are in our catalogue: Lady Lucy Manners and The Three Sons of Sir Henry Harpur among them.
How many Frederick Calvert paintings are in Calke Abbey?
2 works by Frederick Calvert at Calke Abbey are in our catalogue: View of Windsor and Dublin Bay among them.
How many Charles Cooper Henderson paintings are in Calke Abbey?
3 works by Charles Cooper Henderson at Calke Abbey are in our catalogue: Laden Horse-drawn Wagons on the Road, Coaches Attacked by Brigands on a Spanish Road and A Coach Scene on a Mountain Road among them.
Which famous artists are displayed in Calke Abbey?
The ten best-known artists with works in Calke Abbey are Thomas Hudson (2), Frederick Calvert (2), Charles Cooper Henderson (3), George Turner (3), Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen (2), Joseph Horlor (2), John Glover (3), Sawrey Gilpin (4), Ramsay Richard Reinagle (3) and Gabrielle Ricciardelli (2).
Who has the most paintings in the collection of Calke Abbey?
Thomas Weaver (1774–1843), with 11 works in our catalogue of Calke Abbey, ahead of Sawrey Gilpin (4), Charles Cooper Henderson (3) and George Turner (3).
Are there Leonardo da Vinci works in Calke Abbey?
No: Calke Abbey holds no work by Leonardo da Vinci in our catalogue.
Does Calke Abbey have any Pablo Picasso paintings?
No: Calke Abbey holds no work by Pablo Picasso in our catalogue.
Which women artists are in Calke Abbey?
Our catalogue lists 2 women artists with works at Calke Abbey: F. M. Hollams (3) and Fanny McIan (1).
Are the artists in Calke Abbey mostly French, Italian or Dutch?
By country of birth, the artists with two works or more at Calke Abbey are mostly from United Kingdom (12), Italy (1) and Kingdom of Great Britain (1).
Who is the earliest artist in Calke Abbey?
Most of the artists with two works or more at Calke Abbey were born in the 18th century (9 artists); the earliest in this ranking is Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen (1593–1661), the latest F. M. Hollams (1877–1963).
How many artists does the collection of Calke Abbey cover?
53 artists have at least one work of Calke Abbey in our catalogue; 14 have two or more. They were born between 1593 and 1877, in 3 countries.
The house
Calke Abbey, , in a few lines
The Origins and History of Calke Abbey
Calke Abbey is a Grade I listed country house located near Ticknall, Derbyshire, in England. The site's history begins with an Augustinian priory, which functioned from the 12th century until the dissolution by Henry VIII. This priory was founded by Richard d'Avranches, the 2nd Earl of Chester, between 1115 and 1120. Originally an independent community, the priory was dedicated to St Giles. The status of the site changed following the death of Ranulf de Gernon, the 4th Earl of Chester, in 1153. His widow, Maud of Gloucester, took control of the estate as part of her dowry. During her tenure, she initially granted St Wystan's Church, Repton, to the canons at Calke Priory. Later, she commissioned the construction of a new priory, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, at Repton.
The Architecture and Building of the Estate
The present Baroque mansion was constructed between 1701 and 1704. This structure replaced a Tudor house that occupied the site during the time of John Preste. While the current building is a product of the early eighteenth century, the estate was officially named Calke Abbey in 1808. The local geology informs the character of the landscape. The settlement name Calke derives from the Anglian word "calc," meaning chalk, lime, or limestone. On the eastern side of the Main Street, the ground consists of Sandstone Sedimentary bedrock formed between 322 and 321.5 million years ago. The western side of the road sits upon a different composition, consisting largely of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone Sedimentary bedrock from the Carboniferous period, dating between 329 and 320 million years ago. The estate is situated on the Derbyshire side of the county border with Leicestershire.
The famous originals of Calke AbbeyCalke Abbey: the full page, 86 originals
How the masters of the originals are ranked
The masters with two originals or more of Calke Abbey in our catalogue are ranked by fame: the Wikipedia language editions that describe them, the visits to their OriginalUniqueArt.com page and our studio's ranking. Originals are counted in our catalogue — one entry per work, without details, studies or copies — not in the museum's inventory. Every date, birthplace and movement is the catalogue's; the notes are drawn from the master's biography.
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