Art masters are back at Derby Museums and Chatsworth House for second season of The Grand Tour

Work by Simon Starling will feature in season two of the Grand Tour at Derby Museums

Turner Prize-winner Simon Starling, together with Sir Peter Blake and influential performance artist Rose English have been invited to show their work

alongside masterpieces and hidden gems from the venues’ own collections, offering unprecedented access to both contemporary works and old masters.

Derby Museums will present new work created by Starling and the exhibition Joseph Wright and the Lure of Italy, which will run from March 19 to June 12 and explore the Grand Tour of the 18th and 19th Centuries through the experiences of Derbyshire travellers, including Joseph Wright himself.

Treasures from some of the county’s greatest houses and families have been generously lent for this special show, including works by 18th Century master Pompeo Batoni, as well as early Italian Renaissance artists, to sit alongside Derby Museums’ own rich collection.

Some of these items will be on public show for the first time.

Chatsworth’s exhibition, A Grand Tour of the Devonshire Collection, will run from March 19 to October 23 and celebrate the practice of the Grand Tour through the eyes of the Devonshire families’ own continental travels, displaying important works seldom on show, including two Canaletto, Domenichino’s Madonna delle Rose, sketches by Inigo Jones, and a collection of drawings by Flemish painter Sebastian Vrancx, previously unseen at Chatsworth.

The Grand Tour is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

This unique programme encourages visitors to discover the wealth of architectural and artistic riches in the region.

James Berresford, chief executive of Visit England, said: “As The Grand Tour enters its second season, it’s wonderful to witness this project’s continued

commitment to showcasing regional artistry.

“The Cultural Destinations programme aims to drive local economic growth through delivery of the arts and cultural offering, and the presentation of works by a Turner-Prize winner will undoubtedly attract visitors to Derbyshire.

“I welcome continued collaborations between the destination management organisations and local universities, galleries, museums and artists to celebrate art within the region and propel its cultural journey.”