Timothy the Tortoise
Help us find our scaly friend!
Timothy the Tortoise has gone missing in the Gallery!
Can you help us find him?
Timothy the Tortoise was the beloved pet of naturalist Gilbert White, who often escaped the confines of his garden to roam the Hampshire and Sussex countryside. Now he has escaped our display Drawn to Nature: Gilbert White and the Artists and has hidden himself around the Gallery!
Visit us this October half term (20 – 31 October 2020) and you can help us find Timothy. He may have hidden himself in a grandfather clock in the old townhouse or perhaps inside a picture frame in the galleries. If you can find all the places Timothy has been hidden, you could win a prize!
Just pick up the trail sheet at the Welcome Desk when you visit, or download it in advance by clicking the button below. Kids go free at Pallant House Gallery but do be sure to book your time slot and any adult admission tickets in advance.
The tortoise took his usual ramble, & could not be confined within the limits of the garden.
Gilbert White, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne
Lots of artists have illustrated Timothy over the years.
Here are just a few examples of the artworks created across the centuries.
Gilbert White and Timothy
Gilbert White (1720 – 1793) was one of the first naturalists, influencing both Charles Darwin and David Attenborough. His book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, was published in 1789 and has never been out of print.
It celebrates the natural world surrounding the village of Selborne, taking in the Hampshire countryside and Sussex Downs. His charming descriptions of the local wildlife, including the adventures of his pet tortoise, have captivated artists and writers for centuries.
Our exhibition, Drawn to Nature: Gilbert White and the Artists, celebrates just some of the art created to illustrate the work across the centuries.
