Goose Fair
Go to Nottingham City Museums
The Goose Fair, Nottingham – Arthur Spooner, 1926
[On loan from a private collection; © The artist’s estate / Bridgeman Images | FALOAN 95]
On display in our Long Gallery, this 1926 painting by Nottingham artist Arthur Spooner gives the viewer an insight into the history of one of our most enduring local traditions.
Now a ten-day long festival of rides and attractions held every autumn in the city, historians suggest that the Goose Fair officially began after 1282, as a charter from King Edward I referred to fairs taking place in Nottingham at this time. It’s also possible the tradition stretches back even further, with Anglo-Saxon references to the ‘St Matthew’s Day Market’ taking place on 21st September, the day when the Goose Fair is traditionally held. The fair’s name is connected to the Christian festival of Michaelmas, celebrated in the same month and associated with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days – it was customary to eat goose on Michaelmas, which was said to incite luck and wealth for the next year.
Spooner paints the Market Square in low-light to capture an atmospheric scene. The warmth of the painting is exaggerated by the warm yellow lighting from the rides and vendors. The foreground characters are also lit from all sides, suggesting an encirclement of attractions, capturing the exciting and bustling atmosphere of the event. This work of art celebrates Nottingham’s historic traditions and culture, with stories painted in every corner.
The Fair took place in Nottingham’s Market Square for centuries but outgrew the space and so in 1928 it moved to the larger Forest Recreation Ground, where it remains today.
Each year the Goose Fair happens in Nottingham…
Discover more on the Visit Nottinghamshire website
Why not make your city break even bigger, and visit Nottingham Castle to see Arthur Spooner’s painting in person?
