Tintin, Somerset House

The vast neoclassical splendour of Somerset House, with its huge windows and grand fire places, is the perfect environment for a Tintin exhibition, being reminiscent of Captain Haddock’s Marlinspike Hall -- a reproduction of which sits happily in the final room of the retrospective.

Amongst all this rolling splendour, however, the exhibition only takes up three rather small rooms, dedicated to the life and art Belgian artist Georges Remi, otherwise known as Hergé.

Here the Tintin's evolution from genesis to completion is explored with Hergé's original pencil sketches and watercolour pictures, alongside miniature replications of Tintin's houses and - overwhelmingly - large blown up images taken from the comic books. With little narrative to guide the viewer, the heart-warming show will be more especially enjoyed by those who already know and love the intrepid explorer and his faithful companion Snowy.

Since he first appeared in Hergé's weekly cartoon strip in Le Petit Vingtième in Brussels in 1929, Tintin has become one of the most iconic comic-strip heroes along with a supporting cast including Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, and Thomson and Thompson. The series has been translated into 70 languages and has sold over 200 million copies worldwide.

Designed around the enjoyment of rans rather than aiming to convert new readers, we recommend this show for families already familiar with the world of Tintin. If however your children are not yet in love with brave Tintin and his dog, we recommend a trip to the Tintin shop to stock up on the books for Christmas before returning in January to enjoy the exhibition as ardent fans. Don't forget to have a skate on the ice rink whilst you're there.

Suitable for ages 6+

More from Somerset House this winter

Tintin Screenings at Somerset House

Families can come and watch Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece on Saturday 28 November 2015, at 12.00 and 14:00 in the Screening Room for £6 / £5 conc. Directed by Jean-Jacques Vierne this 1961 live- action adventure had the Hergé seal of approval. Featuring all the best-loved characters, the plot centres on a rusty ship called the Golden Fleece which Captain Haddock has unexpectedly inherited from an old friend and aims to take to Istanbul despite many pitfalls on the way.