My favourite painting in The Harris is “The ‘Man In The Moon’ Inn”, which can be found in the Art Gallery on the second floor. It depicts a hut in an oak tree, with sheep grazing beneath.

On my first tour of the Art Gallery, this painting caught my eye. I was so intrigued by the Inn, I had to go away and do some research into it. It made me ponder if this whimsical Inn could have really existed, and what I thought it would be like if it did.

Would it feel surprisingly sturdy when inside? Are there ladders around the back for people to get in? Would the tree continue to grow around the Inn, securing it in place even more over time, almost like a protective giant holding the Inn in its arms?

I think one of the reasons I am so drawn to it is because it reminds me of childhood, treehouses and adventure stories. Growing up, my favourite book was The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton, so treehouses have always been a fascination for me, and have always felt like a secret hideaway. This quirky painting makes me feel calm and intrigued.

It was painted around 1770, by Preston-born artist Anthony Devis. The name “Man in the Moon” was a popular name for inns in the 1700s, often used to signal a place of retreat or a spot where someone could “escape” the world. Quite literally in this case, by climbing into a tree!

The scene itself may have been copied from a Dutch painting, but this remains unconfirmed. Anothony Devis settled in Surrey five years before this painting was finished, and it is theorised that this is where the painting was set.

Next time you’re in the Art Gallery, have a look at this painting and see if it makes you imagine adventures and giants, or something completely different!