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| Assistant archivist Rachael Jones who discovered the cache of letters whilst cataloguing GSA Directors’ papers |
Letters from some of
the greatest artistic and literary figures of the late 19th and
early 20th century have been discovered during the major
digitisation and cataloguing of The Glasgow School of Art’s Archives and
Collections it was revealed today.
the greatest artistic and literary figures of the late 19th and
early 20th century have been discovered during the major
digitisation and cataloguing of The Glasgow School of Art’s Archives and
Collections it was revealed today.
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| Letter of 1903 from celebrated sculptor, Auguste Rodin, to Francis ‘Fra’ Newbery |
The discovery was made
by archivist Rachael Jones who is currently working on papers relating to Directors
of the GSA.
by archivist Rachael Jones who is currently working on papers relating to Directors
of the GSA.
“I knew that some of the most exciting of the Directors Papers were those
of Francis Newbery, Head of the Art School during an incredibly dynamic period
in the School’s history,” says Rachael. “So
I was thrilled to find that a box of material relating to him that had not yet
been catalogued, and to discover some real gems in it.”
of Francis Newbery, Head of the Art School during an incredibly dynamic period
in the School’s history,” says Rachael. “So
I was thrilled to find that a box of material relating to him that had not yet
been catalogued, and to discover some real gems in it.”
The eminent artist Francis
Henry Newbery, (known as Fra Newbery), was Director of The Glasgow School of
Art from 1885 to 1918. During that time the profile of the School was raised
from moderately successful institution to one with an international reputation.
Newbery was also responsible for commissioning a young Charles Rennie
Mackintosh to design the world-famous building which now bears his name.
Henry Newbery, (known as Fra Newbery), was Director of The Glasgow School of
Art from 1885 to 1918. During that time the profile of the School was raised
from moderately successful institution to one with an international reputation.
Newbery was also responsible for commissioning a young Charles Rennie
Mackintosh to design the world-famous building which now bears his name.
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“I have memories of early spring in Glasgow which rather terrify one.”
William Morris (from letter of 14 January 1889)
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Among the gems that
Rachael discovered is a pack of four letters written by the celebrated designer
and social reformer William Morris discussing an invitation to give some
lectures in Scotland in the spring of 1889. In the earliest of the letters,
dated 14 January, Morris declares that he does not like to say no, but that he
has “memories of early spring in Glasgow
from last year which rather terrify one.” Morris does, however, overcome his fears and
in the next letter (dated 21 January) agrees to give a lecture under the
auspices of the Socialist League of Glasgow (on Sunday 10 February) and one to
the students at The Glasgow School of Art (on Monday 11 February). By 24
January he has agreed that the subject for The Glasgow School of Art lecture
should be “Arts and Crafts”.
Rachael discovered is a pack of four letters written by the celebrated designer
and social reformer William Morris discussing an invitation to give some
lectures in Scotland in the spring of 1889. In the earliest of the letters,
dated 14 January, Morris declares that he does not like to say no, but that he
has “memories of early spring in Glasgow
from last year which rather terrify one.” Morris does, however, overcome his fears and
in the next letter (dated 21 January) agrees to give a lecture under the
auspices of the Socialist League of Glasgow (on Sunday 10 February) and one to
the students at The Glasgow School of Art (on Monday 11 February). By 24
January he has agreed that the subject for The Glasgow School of Art lecture
should be “Arts and Crafts”.
“These letters are incredibly important,” says GSA Lecturer and
specialist in British art and design history, Dr Helen McCormack. “They provide a better understanding of
Morris’s relationship with the city, revealing that he was a much more frequent
visitor to Glasgow than has been believed to date.”
specialist in British art and design history, Dr Helen McCormack. “They provide a better understanding of
Morris’s relationship with the city, revealing that he was a much more frequent
visitor to Glasgow than has been believed to date.”
“Equally significant is the date of Morris’s lecture on ‘Arts &
Crafts’ to Glasgow School of Art students, as it is very likely that CR
Mackintosh would have had the opportunity to attend this lecture while he was
still a student here in 1889,” she adds, “It is generally agreed among scholars that Mackintosh’s work, not least
the building at GSA which bears his name, conveys some stylistic and
architectural details determined by Arts & Crafts ideals, and here in these
letters we learn about an event at which the young designer would almost certainly
have learned about these principles from one of the leaders of the Arts &
Crafts movement, William Morris.”
Crafts’ to Glasgow School of Art students, as it is very likely that CR
Mackintosh would have had the opportunity to attend this lecture while he was
still a student here in 1889,” she adds, “It is generally agreed among scholars that Mackintosh’s work, not least
the building at GSA which bears his name, conveys some stylistic and
architectural details determined by Arts & Crafts ideals, and here in these
letters we learn about an event at which the young designer would almost certainly
have learned about these principles from one of the leaders of the Arts &
Crafts movement, William Morris.”
Also in the correspondence
is a letter from one of the original Glasgow Boys, the leading artist Sir John
Lavery, which he sent to Newbery having had an early view of
works to be shown in the 1897 Biennale including paintings by Newbery. Lavery avers that he expects that the Italian papers are surpassing each other
in praise of Newbery’s work.
is a letter from one of the original Glasgow Boys, the leading artist Sir John
Lavery, which he sent to Newbery having had an early view of
works to be shown in the 1897 Biennale including paintings by Newbery. Lavery avers that he expects that the Italian papers are surpassing each other
in praise of Newbery’s work.
Meanwhile, a letter from War of the Worlds author,
HG Wells, shares reminiscences of the time he and Newbery were associated with the
South Kensington system in the late 19th century, at the time when
“Darwin’s Bulldog”, TH Huxley, was giving his final lectures.
HG Wells, shares reminiscences of the time he and Newbery were associated with the
South Kensington system in the late 19th century, at the time when
“Darwin’s Bulldog”, TH Huxley, was giving his final lectures.
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“You will be so kind as to inform me whether The International Exhibition is open
and what impression my plasters have made on the public”
Auguste Rodin to Francis Newbery, 27 April 1901
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The international reputation
of The Glasgow School of Art under the direction of Newbery is underlined in
two letters from one of the world’s greatest sculptors, Auguste Rodin. In the
earlier of the two letters (1901) Rodin writes to Newbery asking about the
public reaction to plasters of two of his famous sculptures St Jean and Les Bourgeois de Calais – that had been sent to The
Glasgow International Exhibition, the major event that marked the opening of
Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.
of The Glasgow School of Art under the direction of Newbery is underlined in
two letters from one of the world’s greatest sculptors, Auguste Rodin. In the
earlier of the two letters (1901) Rodin writes to Newbery asking about the
public reaction to plasters of two of his famous sculptures St Jean and Les Bourgeois de Calais – that had been sent to The
Glasgow International Exhibition, the major event that marked the opening of
Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.
“The wonderful thing about an archive as rich as ours at the GSA is
that it contains so many exciting items,” says Rachael. “We are sure that many more gems will be discovered as we continue
work on the thousands of documents, photographs and artefacts that are held
here in the Archives.”
that it contains so many exciting items,” says Rachael. “We are sure that many more gems will be discovered as we continue
work on the thousands of documents, photographs and artefacts that are held
here in the Archives.”
The
letters have now been digitised and are available to view via: http://www.gsaarchives.net/archon/index.php?p=digitallibrary/digitalcontent&id=2644
letters have now been digitised and are available to view via: http://www.gsaarchives.net/archon/index.php?p=digitallibrary/digitalcontent&id=2644
Ends
For further
information, images and interviews contact:
information, images and interviews contact:
Lesley Booth,
07799414474
press@gsa.ac.uk
@GSofAMedia