Winterthur Hosts "Costumes of Downton Abbey"

Winterthur Hosts Costumes of Downton Abbey
March 1, 2014-January 4, 2015

WINTERTHUR, DELAWARE - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library will host Costumes of Downton Abbey beginning March 1, 2014 through January 4, 2015.  Approximately 40 historically inspired costumes from the award winning television show will be on display and supplemented by photographs and vignettes inspired by the fictional program and by real life at Winterthur.

A co-production of Carnival Films and Masterpiece, Downton Abbey depicts life in the British household of the fictional Earl and Countess of Grantham. It is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed period dramas ever produced earning a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries and seven Emmys including a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries. Guinness World Records recognized Downton Abbey as the most critically acclaimed English-language television series of 2011.  By its third series, Downton Abbey became one of the most widely watched television shows in the world.

Cosprop, the world's leading costumier for film, television and theater, will lend approximately 40 historically accurate costumes from the television show. These costumes will be displayed in Winterthur's largest gallery space.  Using photographs and vignettes, Winterthur's curators will structure the exhibition so that visitors can step into and experience the fictional world of Downton Abbey and the contrasting world of Winterthur founder Henry Francis du Pont and his contemporaries during the first half of the 20th century.

Winterthur Director David Roselle says "Costumes of Downton Abbey will not only showcase authentic designs from the series that has taken America by storm; it will also provide a remarkable educational experience by holding up a mirror to both institutions and societies. We think it's going to be a real treat."

In conjunction with the exhibition, Winterthur will host a wide range of lectures, workshops and special events focusing on entertaining and country house life in Britain and the United States.

Museum hours are 10:00AM to 5:00PM, Tuesday thru Sunday; Winterthur is closed on Mondays except during Yuletide, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. For more information, including special services, call (800) 448-3883, (302) 888-4600 or TTY (302) 888-4907 or visit www.winterthur.org.

Downton® and Downton Abbey®. A Carnival Films/Masterpiece Co-Production.  

Carnival logo © 2005 Carnival Film & Television Limited. Masterpiece is a trademark of the WGBH Educational Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Photograph by Nick Briggs © 2012 Carnival Film & Television Limited. All Rights Reserved.

The Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau is a non-profit organization founded in 1978, chartered by the Governor of Delaware, the New Castle County Executive and the Mayor of Wilmington. Its mission is to serve as the community's customer-focused destination marketing organization, generating economic growth through leisure travel and meetings development by aggressively marketing attractions, facilities, amenities and services for visitors.

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