Art of Power

Masterpieces from the Bute Collection

A group of Friends visited the Hunterian Museum at Glasgow University to see the exhibition of paintings from the collection of Lord Bute. We were introduced to this by Dr Peter Robinson, curator. Many of us had heard of Lord Bute as a Prime Minister in the reign of George III but we were interested to hear of his previous life as a tutor to the young George III and then of his subsequent career. His interests were Art and Botany and indeed he published a nine volume book on Flora. He was a friend of Linnaeus and knew Joseph Banks who was the botanist with Captain Cook on his voyage to Australia. Both these interests are covered in the exhibition.

The paintings on show at the Hunterian are mostly small paintings from Dutch and Flemish artists and they are hung as they would have been at Mount Stuart. This is a delightful exhibition and we are most grateful to Dr Robinson for giving his time to explain it. Many of us will visit again.

The Hunterian

Tapestries from the Burrell Collection

© CSG CIC Glasgow Museums Collection

On Thursday, 24^th of August 2017, at a reception in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the eagerly awaited catalogue “Tapestries from the Burrell Collection” was launched. Addressing the company, the Lord Provost, Eva Bolander, acknowledged the international importance of the tapestry collection and the connoisseurship of Sir William Burrell. The catalogue is the fruit of many years of research undertaken by Glasgow Museums in collaboration with Dr Elizabeth Cleland, Associate Curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and Dr Lorraine Karafel, Associate Professor at Parsons School of Design, New York. The catalogue was made possible with the generous support of The Sir William Burrell Trust, Friends of Glasgow Museums, The Aurelius Charitable Trust, The Esmee Fairburn Trust and The Mercers’   Company.

Thomas Cairns Livingstone’s Diaries

Friends will remember that we helped to purchase the diaries of Thomas Cairns Livingstone. These can now be seen in a new display in the Mitchell library showcasing Glasgow during the period from 1913 to 1933. In the springtime, Barbara McLean, archivist, spoke to the Friends about these diaries. She is now giving free lectures about them. They will be on 24 August, 2017, at 6 pm in the library at Goma and on 31 August, 2017 at 6 pm in Langside library. The talks are all free and are drop in but people are asked to book their space at the Mitchell Library by telephoning the Grenville Street reception team on (0141) 287 2999.

Dali Painting on Loan

© CSG CIC Glasgow Museums Collection

Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvador Dali has been taken down and is in conservation before going to London for the exhibition Dali /Duchamp at the Royal Academy. The exhibition will open on the 7 October 2017. The exhibition then travels to the Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Florida, USA.

The painting will return in summer 2018 to Kelvingrove but will then proceed to Bishop Auckland to Auckland Castle in the Autumn.

The Royal Academy will loan a painting by Raeburn, Boy with a Rabbit ,for display in Kelvingrove while the Dali is away.

Visit to the National Museum of Scotland

On Wednesday, 21^st June, Friends returned to Edinburgh to visit the new displays in the Chamber Street Museum. We were fortunate that we had an introduction by Alison Taubman, Principal Curator, Communications and Technology, to the Science and Technology galleries and by Godfrey  Evans, Principal Curator, European Decorative Arts , to the Art and Design galleries. There is so much to see in all the galleries that it was good to have their help in navigating them.

 We were told that there had been discussion with the public about what should be available and that many, who remembered the working models from their childhood visits, had asked for them to be restored. There are indeed working models:  John Elder’s engine for ships, a paddle steamer   and a hand prosthesis were a few of many. When we were there, the average age of the visitors must have been about 20!

Of particular interest in Art and Design were objects from the 10^th Duke of Hamilton’s collection, a display of Phoebe Anne Traquair’s work and the display of costume through the ages including the Jean Muir collection.

Items from The Galloway Hoard had just been put on show so we were able to get an early look at silver items from this important find.

Three hours was only sufficient to allow us to get a taste of what is on show and we left intending to return another time. You may wish to explore the web site National Museum of Scotland

Thanks to Margaret Anderson for arranging this and to our driver Ian.