SEPTEMBER 2006

BRANGWYN THE POLYMATH

At the September meeting of the The Farnham Decorative And Fine Arts Society, the lecturer, Libby Horner, Curator for the 2006 Brangwyn Retrospective Exhibition, talked on Brangwyn the Polymath.  She enlightened members on the life and the wide-ranging accomplishments of the artist, Frank Brangwyn, (1867–1956).  He was born in Bruges and moved to London when he was seven.  His father, an architect, greatly influenced his interest in design although Brangwyn had no academic or arts education.  In 1896 he married Lucy Ray, and they lived at Temple Lodge in London until 1918 when they moved to Ditchling, where he continued to spend his time after his wife’s death in 1924.

His three earliest mentors were Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo, William Morris and Seigfried Bing.  He worked on and off with William Morris for two years on textiles, embroideries and tapestries and, like Morris, had a great work ethic, painting 800 oils before 1912.  Morris’ socialism influenced Brangwyn and this was reflected in his depiction of working men in his paintings, always with an optimistic feel.  In addition, he painted boats, and scenes with water, exotic dancers, and scenes from Spain and South Africa.  Brangwyn had a painting accepted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition when he was only 18.  He was known to use photographs to create his paintings, a fact that artists at the time were reluctant to reveal, but Libby Horner showed slides of some of the photographs, which he used for his work.

Brangwyn’s talents encompassed many aspects of art.  Siegfried Bing was instrumental in getting him a commission for a mural, and he went on to work on many more.  His more famous were those at Skinners Hall, in London, the Rockefeller Centre in New York, Christ’s Hospital in Horsham and St Aidan’s church in Leeds.  He was best known for the Empire Panels, which he was commissioned to produce for the Royal Gallery in the House of Lords, but which eventually came to reside in Swansea.  They were exotic panels showing a profusion of plants, foliage and animals from the countries of the Empire.  Although these were not liked by the Royal Academy they proved very popular with the art-loving public.

Brangwyn also designed jewellery, produced 300 etchings between 1900 and 1923, and designed carpets and furniture.  The lecture demonstrated that he was truly worthy of the title of polymath in the world of art.

Frances Ashworth, the Chairman urged members to visit the Young Arts Exhibition being held at UCCA, from 10.00 am – 5.00 pm, 29 September - 7 October.  Members were reminded that bookings were being taken for visits to Danson House and The Red House on 27 September and Spencer House, Churchill Museum and the Cabinet War Rooms on 20 November, and for the study day, Treasures and Curiosities from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle, on 23 November.  The New Members and Waiting List Members Coffee Morning is on 3 October at 10.30 am in the Cellar Bar in The Maltings.