PETWORTH.- Opened to great acclaim on 6th March in the beautifully-preserved West Sussex market town of Petworth, just weeks before Covid-19 led to its temporary closure, Newlands House is launching a digital iteration of its inaugural show, Helmut Newton 100. Curated by the gallery’s artistic director and leading art world auctioneer, Simon de Pury, and timed with the late photographer’s birth centenary this year, the exhibition spans portrait, fashion, still life and landscape photography.

Designed as an online sister to its physical counterpart, Inside Helmut Newton 100, will launch with a short film, which guides viewers through Newlands House’s 12 rooms while offering glimpses of significant masterpieces and rare prints, such as Big Nude III (Henrietta variant), 1980 which has never before been publicly displayed in the UK, and Elsa Peretti, Bunny, New York, 1975.

Inside Helmut Newton 100’s digital tour will be released on IGTV, as well as the gallery’s Facebook account at 3pm on Thursday 30th April 2020, with short teasers posted beforehand. Further exclusively produced content will be published from May, including one-minute voiceover readings of individual photographs by the ever-charismatic Simon de Pury, informed by his friendship with Newton and deep knowledge of his work. Additionally, short interviews with 'friends of Helmut' are expected to be streamed over the coming weeks, as well as discussions with invited guests, such as Mary McCartney and Juergen Teller.

The online initiative is inspired by Newlands House’s understanding of the positive impact art can make at this challenging time.

Newlands House is a new gallery space inspired by the historic associations of Petworth and Sussex with great artists, writers and designers from times past. Running in parallel with exhibitions dedicated to modern and contemporary art, photography and design, the gallery’s annual cultural programme plans to build on the heritage of Petworth and the town’s reputation for excellence in music, literature and antiques.

Newlands House occupies a spacious Grade II listed Georgian townhouse and adjacent coach house in Petworth, West Sussex, in the heart of the South Downs. Spanning 7,500 square feet, the building was originally built for Dr. Newlands in the 18th century and was most recently occupied by an antiques and interiors shop, Augustus Brandt Antiques. Petworth boasts one of the country’s largest art collections, housed in the National Trust’s Petworth House and Park, and sits at the centre of Sussex’s burgeoning cultural scene, spanning museums, art centres, festivals, vineyards, nature trails and stately homes.