1954
This long decade marks the tenure of Lawrence Gowing as Professor of Fine Art and the establishment of new and vigourous programmes of exhibtions, acquisitions and teaching.
By 1954 Victor Pasmore and Richard Hamilton were established as members of staff, joining longer-serving staff such as Leonard Evetts, Murray McCheyne, Louisa Hodgson and art historian Ralph Holland.
Exhibitions
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Staples Alphabet Exhibition
8 January - 16 January 1954Staples Alphabet Exhibition
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Invitation to the opening of the ‘Staples Alphabet’ exhibition
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The German Expressionists
25 January - 13 February 1954
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Ceri Richards
February 22 - 20 March 1954Ceri Richards
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In house poster design for ‘Ceri Richards’
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Rough layout for the catalogue
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Final printed version of the leaflet
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Private View card
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Ivan Geffen’s review of Ceri Richards
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Venetian Villas
26 April - 15 May 1954Venetian Villas
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Press-release Venetian Villas
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Hokusai Drawings and Watercolours
5 - 21 June 1954
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Summer Exhibition, Fine Art Students
25 June - 3 July 1954
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John Ruskin. 1819-1900 and first exhibition of pictures from the permanent collection of the Hatton Gallery)
27 November - 18 December 1954John Ruskin. 1819-1900 and first exhibition of pictures from the permanent collection of the Hatton Gallery)
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John Ruskin and the Hatton permanent collection
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Report to the Arts Council about the Ruskin exhibition
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Staff / Students
1954, Student Summer Exhibition, private view card
The invitation for the press to attend the 1954 Summer Exhibition was obviously very successful with a number of reviews appearing in the local press.
In 1954 the external examiners were Claude Rogers and Edward Bawden.
1954, Student Summer Exhibition, press reviews
These three local press reviews of the 1954 Summer Exhibition all mention the influence tutors such as Gowing and Pasmore (in his first year in the Department) might have on stylistic trends amongst the students, and also identify definite signs of change.
Acquisitions
The Facade, St. Jacques Façade, 1899
Walter Sickert
Walter Sickert (1860-1942) - 'The Facade, St. Jacques Façade' 1899.
NEWHG : D.0001. Chalk and wash on paper, presented by the Contemporary Art Society, 1954.
The finished painting based on this squared up drawing is in the collection of the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester. The drawing had been in the collection of Sir Edward Marsh, part of which had been exhibited at the Hatton in early 1953. On his death Marsh left much of his collection to the Contemporary Art Society to be distributed to collections around the country.
Still life With Bowl, Spoon and Apples, 1913
Mark Gertler
Mark Gertler (1891-1939) - 'Still life With Bowl, Spoon and Apples' 1913.
NEWHG : OP.0061. Oil on board presented by Contemporary Art Society, 1954.
This painting originally belonged to Sir Edward Marsh and had been shown in the Hatton exhibition of his collection the year before it was acquired.
The Artist’s Mother Reading in Bed, 1917
Harold Gilman
Harold Gilman (1876-1919) - 'The Artist's Mother Reading in Bed' 1917.
NEWHG : D.0014. Ink on paper purchased from the artist’s widow, 1954.
This small drawing was purchased directly from the artists’ widow, Mrs Sylvia Gilman, at around the same time as the Arts Council had organised a major retrospective exhibition, which had done much to re-establish his reputation.
The Drunkenness of Noah, 1600
Camillo Procaccini
Camillo Procaccini (c.1555-1629) - 'The Drunkenness of Noah', c.1600.
NEWHG : OP.0030. Oil on canvas purchased from the Biddulph Collection sale, Sotheby’s (12/5/1954).
Letter concerning ‘The Drunkenness of Noah’, 1954
This fine painting was purchased for £100, without a frame. There is a drawing in red chalk of a detail of the painting in the National Gallery of Canada.