Press Release: immediate, 6 August, 2014
THE SHERRY INSTITUTE OF SPAIN
POET LAUREATE’S SHERRY FEATURED IN ‘POETRY FOR THE PALACE: POETS LAUREATE FROM DRYDEN TO DUFFY’ AT THE QUEEN’S GALLERY, PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE 7 AUGUST – 2 NOVEMBER 2014
Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2014, photographer David Cheskin
The British Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, has signed a replica of her ‘Butt of Sherry’ to mark the opening of the exhibition “Poetry for the Palace; Poets Laureate from Dryden to Duffy" in Edinburgh.
Traditionally, the Poet Laureate was rewarded with a small stipend and a Butt of Sherry (once called Sherry Sack) from 1630, when Ben Jonson received it for the first time, until 1790 when the Laureate of the day, Henry Pye relinquished his Butt for a payment of £27 per year.
www.sherryinstitute.co.uk Press Release: immediate, 6 August, 2014
In 1984, to mark over 600 years of the trade in Sherry between the two countries, the Sherry Producers of Spain offered to revive the custom by giving a Butt of Sherry (720 bottles) on the appointment of Ted Hughes as Poet Laureate. He travelled to Jerez in Spain, chose some Sherry and signed his cask, a traditional mark of respect for distinguished visitors.
Sir Andrew Motion and Carol Ann Duffy also went to Jerez in their turn, on appointment as Poet Laureate, to make their choices and sign their casks.
The Laureates Sherry is bottled using their exclusive labels. Ted Hughes designed and drew his own, Andrew Motion’s daughter Siddy, was responsible for his; whilst Carol Ann Duffy’s label was created by the textual artist Steven Raw, whose work is also featured in the exhibition.
Examples of their bottles are included in the exhibition, together with photographs, the head of a Sherry barrel and other items. Poetry for the Palace: Poets Laureate from Dryden to Duffy is the first exhibition to explore this royal tradition and the relationship between poet and monarch over 350 years, through historic documents from the Royal Library and newly commissioned works of art,
Carol Ann Duffy, the 20th Poet and the first female Laureate, wrote a poem ‘At Jerez’ in 2011 which is also on view and reproduced on the back label of her bottles.
There is a strong literary connection with Sherry over the years, mentioned by Chaucer, Shakespeare, Pepys, Dickens and others in their works.
ENDS For more information about Poetry for the Palace: Poets Laureate from Dryden to Duffy, please visit www.royalcollection.org
PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Carol Ann Duffy signing a replica of her cask. Credit line: Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2014, photographer David Cheskin Images for use only in connection with the exhibition Poetry for the Palace: From Dryden to Duffy, The Queen's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse. Images must not be archived or sold-on. Carol Ann Duffy’s poem “At Jerez” Carol Ann Duffy’s Sherry labels For photos contact: [email protected]
For more information contact: Graham Hines, The Sherry Institute of Spain, [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1582 739872 Mobile +44 (0)7769 975244 More information on Sherry can be found on www.sherry.org
www.sherryinstitute.co.uk