Oriel Gelf Glynn Vivian Art Gallery

Welcome to Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea

Since it was founded in 1911, theGallery has formed a significantCollection with displays which arecomplemented by dynamic Exhibitionsand Learning Programmes

The Art Gallery is named after its founder and principalbenefactor, Richard Glynn Vivian. Born in September1835, he was the fourth son of the wealthy owners of thelargest copper factory in Swansea, then the main Britishcopper smelting centre. The Vivians contributed greatlyto the commercial, social and cultural life of the City.

The Collection

Thomas Jones (1742-1803) Ruined Buildings Naples, c. 1782, oil on paper, 24.5 x 39.7 cm

A broad spectrum of the visual arts,from old masters to contemporaryartists, and an international collectionof porcelain and Swansea china

R E Pfeninger Portrait of Richard Glynn Vivian, 1882oil on canvas, 88.2 x 67.7 cm

Impressionism comes to the GalleryIn 1911 François Depeaux, a Frenchindustrialist from Rouen with strongbusiness connections in Swansea, and a friend of Richard Glynn Vivian,donated six paintings from the ‘School of Rouen’ to the Collection

One of a series of 35 works painted by this famousFrench impressionist whilst living with his wife andchild in The Netherlands during 1871

Lucien Pissarro painted this view of Cefn Bryn from Pennard Castle, when visiting theSwansea area in 1933. Eldest son of the famous impressionist, Camille Pissarro, Lucienlived in England for 50 years. A member of the New English Art Club and the CamdenTown Group, he had a strong impact on young British artists of the day includingWalter Sickert, Percy Wyndham Lewis and Augustus John who are also represented inthe Collection

Lucien Pissarro (1863-1944) Cefn Bryn, Gower, 1933, oil on canvas, 47.3 x 55 cmClaude Monet (1840-1926) Bateaux en Hollande près de Zaandam, 1871, oil oncanvas, 35.2 x 71 cm. Presented 1974 by HM Government(Treasury) in lieu of estate duties

Joseph Delattre (l858-1912) Vielles Maisons, undated, oil oncanvas, 75.4 x 90.3 cm. A further giftfrom François Depeaux in 1919

Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson, her husband, were involved with mainstreamEuropean Abstraction, visiting Paris during the 1930s where they regularly metPicasso, Gabo, Brancusi and Mondrian. In l939 they moved to St Ives and helped toform the St Ives School. Along with Henry Moore (1898-1986), Hepworth and Nicholsonwere the first generation of Modern artists in the UK

Ben Nicholson (1894-1982) October 12 1952, oil and pencil on

board, 29.5 x 23.3 cm © Angela Verren Taunt 2008.

All rights reserved, DACS 2008

Cubism – Futurism – SurrealismAbstraction – ConstructivismIn the early 20th Century, the UKbecame a veritable melting pot ofideas, fuelled by the many exhibitionsand visiting artists from overseas,who introduced the differing factionsof Modernism

Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) Curved form with Inner form – anima, 1959,

bronze, 62.5 x 40 x 68 cm © Bowness, Hepworth Estate

Along with Henry Moore, BarbaraHepworth revived the art of sculpturein 20th Century UK

"Colour is the keyboard, the eyes arethe hammers, the soul is the piano withmany strings. The artist is the handwhich plays touching one key oranother, to cause vibrations in the soul"Wassily Kandinsky - ‘Concerning the Spiritual in Art’ 1911

Ceri Richards believed in an underlying unity in thearts; some of his greatest work was inspired by thepoems of Dylan Thomas and the music of Debussy.Born in Dunvant near Swansea, Richards achievedinternational acclaim during his lifetime

"Music is speciallysignificant to me andmoves parallel with mylove of and activity ofpainting – continually". Ceri Richards –1960

Ceri Richards (1903-71) The Pianist, 1948, oil on canvas, 63 x 76 cm © Estate of Ceri Richards/DACS 2008

Ceri Richards (1903-71) Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night,1965, watercolour and mixed media onpaper, 77 x 56.7 cm © Estate of Ceri Richards/DACS 2008

Regarded by many critics as one of the greatest women painters of her day, GwenJohn was brought up in Tenby and studied at the Slade School of Art in London, livingin France from the early 1900s. Under Whistler’s tutelage in Paris she developed herinterest in tone and texture. Over the years she increasingly refined her veryindividual technique and highly original vision culminating with works of greatdelicacy and sensitivity

Gwen John (1876-1939) Little Girl Wearing a Straw Hat, c. 1910s, gouache, 21.7 x 17 cm

© Estate of Gwen John. All rights reserved, DACS 2008

With a portrait you have an immediateexperience of an individual, possiblyfrom another time, place or culture

Augustus John was an outstandingpainter and brilliant draughtsman.Born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire hestudied at the Slade School of Art inLondon at the same time as his sister,Gwen. The Tutor is a portrait of JohnHope-Johnstone, who taught John’schildren at Alderney Manor, Dorset

Augustus John (1878-1961) The Tutor, c. 1911, oil on panel, 52.9 x 41.6 cm © With permission of Augustus John Estate/TheBridgeman Art Library

Craig Wood (b.1960) Carmarthen-Leeds Return, 2000, acrylic on featherframed 33 x 27 cm © The Artist. Winner of TheRichard and Rosemary Wakelin Purchase Award2003. An annual award supported by the Friends

Richard Monahan (b.1979)Portrait with Pencil, 2005, oil drawing, 170 x 120 cm © The Artist. Winner of Sir Leslie Joseph Young Artist Award andgifted by the Friends in 2006. This is abiennial award supported by the Friends

Shani Rhys James (b.1953) Head I, II & III, 2002, oil on linen, each 31 x 15 cm

© Shani Rhys James. All rights reserved, DACS2008. Purchased in 2003 with assistance from

Resource/V+A Purchase Grant Fund and theFriends of the Glynn Vivian

Over the years, through gifts andacquisitions, and the unfailing supportof the Friends of the Glynn Vivian, the Collection continues to developFor more information on the Friends of the Glynn Vivian go towww.glynnviviangallery.org or contact Gallery Reception

The Gallery is famous for its collectionof Swansea pottery and porcelain

Thomas Baxter (1782-1821) The Jubal Cup, c. 1814-1817,

Swansea porcelain Cambrian Pottery

height 8.4 cm

Thomas Rothwell (1740-1897) The Betsey Ship Plate, 1800,

Swansea printed earthenwareCambrian Pottery, diameter 24.7 cm

Franz Anton Bustelli (1754-63) The Tempestuous Lovers, 1760, Nymphenburg hard paste porcelain, height 14.4 cm

Today Franz Anton Bustelli is regarded as the major Rococo porcelain artist. In less than9 years at Nymphenburg, he created about 150 models, including his world-famousfigures of the Commedia dell’Arte

It also houses many original examples of Welsh, English, European and Orientalpottery and porcelain, purchased by Richard Glynn Vivian, which now forms the coreof a much greater collection today

ExhibitionsLearning

Bookshop

Shimabuku (b.1969), Swansea Jack Memorial Dog Swimming Competition, 2003, organised by Glynn Vivian Art Gallery © The Artist

There is an emphasis on the inter-relationship between local and global issues and thisis also reflected in the invitations that are extended to local and international artists toexhibit and to create work in response to the City of Swansea

The Gallery also hosts national andinternational touring exhibitions ofmajor contemporary artists and arthistorical shows

The Gallery holds quarterly contem-porary applied arts exhibitions fornew and emerging artists as well asmore established figures

A dynamic exhibitions programmeprovides a platform for artists based inWales to present their work in a local,national and international context

(Above) Peter Finnemore (b.1963) Green Destiny, 2004, photograph. From ‘Zen Gardener’ an exhibition originated byOriel Mostyn Gallery and shown at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery 2005 © The Artist

(Left) Nadín Ospina (b.1960) Idolo con Muñeca (Idol with Doll), 2000, limestone sculpture, 42 x 24 x 19 cmUniversity of Essex Collection of Latin American Art. From Displaced: ContemporaryArt from Colombia, originated by Glynn Vivian Art Gallery 2007 © The Artist

Rut Blees Luxemburg (b.1967) DVLA, 2003, photograph. From ‘ffolly’ an exhibition jointlyoriginated by Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and Ffotogallery 2003© The Artist

David Clarke (b.1967) Stuff of Nonsense, 2006, lead, precious whitemetal & silver plated brass © The Artist

discussing a range of issues generated by the exhibitions and displays. Poets andmusicians are also often invited to give their very particular responses to the artworks.Audio guides are available for selected works on display, including Swansea artistsEvan Walters (1893-1951) and Ceri Richards (1903-1971)For films and podcasts of events go to our website – www.glynnviviangallery.org

Events include artists, curators,writers and cultural commentators –

In Transit ensembleperforming a concert ofcontemporary music in

response to ‘You’ll NeverKnow: Drawing and

Random Interference’, aHayward Gallery Touring

Exhibition 2006

Creating a friendly, supportiveatmosphere in which young people areable to develop an understanding ofthe world of art while, at the sametime, discovering their own capabilitiesthrough practical workshops

Children viewing Nanzino Pece’s series for‘Final Season at the Vetch’, a group show ofphotographers from Swansea Institute ofHigher Education 2006

Around 6,000 school children and studentsparticipate in organised Gallery visits each year,as part of the 4-Site Education Service

Gallery MapThe Bookshop stocks the most recentpublications on Contemporary Art,Photography, Applied Art, Architecture,Fashion, Design, Art History and Theory

EDUCATION

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Ground floor; upper floor limited access; accessible toilets;main entrance intercom with tactile/braille sign.

If you wish to receive this information in an alternative format,please contact the Gallery. This leaflet is available in Welsh.

City & County of Swansea. The Glynn Vivian Art Gallerygratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Friends of the Glynn Vivian and The Arts Council of Wales.

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TRAIN STATION

Cover Mark Wallinger (b.1959), Ecce Homo, 1999, white marbleised resin, gold leaf, barbed wire – life size (installed in Glynn Vivian Art Gallery,2002) © The Artist, courtesy Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London. Photography Charles & Patricia Aithie, David Clarke, Peter Finnemore, Rut Blees Luxemburg, Graham Matthews, Noguchi Rika. © 2008 Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and the artists. Every effort has been made to securethe permission of copyright holders to reproduce work. Design A1 Design, Cardiff

For further information about what’s on, please contact Gallery Reception or go to www.glynnviviangallery.org

Gwen John (1876-1939) The Nun, c. late 1910s, oil on canvas, 56 x 35.2 cm

© Estate of Gwen John. All rights reserved, DACS 2008

Oriel Gelf Glynn Vivian Art GalleryAlexandra Road Swansea SA1 5DZ Tel: 01792 516900

e-mail: glynn.vivian.gallery@swansea.gov.uk www: glynnviviangallery.orgOpen Tuesday to Sunday 10am - 5pm Closed Mondays (except Bank Holidays) Admission Free