Works of Art Committee

Transcription

1 WA/15-16 Works of Art Committee Wednesday 3 February 2016 at 5.00pm, in Committee Room G Agenda 1. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Minutes of meeting on 9 December CHRISTMAS CARD SALES The Chairman will speak to the paper 3. GRANT TO THE WORKS OF ART COLLECTION FUND The Director of Information Services will speak to her paper WA/15-16/15 WA/15-16/16 WA/15-16/17 4. POSSIBLE ACQUISITIONS AND LOANS De Morgan Foundation loan The Assistant Curator will speak to her paper Preparatory Study for the British Empire panels by Sir Frank Brangwyn loan The Curator will speak to his paper WA/15-16/18 WA/15-16/19 5. ST STEPHEN S CHAPEL PROJECT Presentation from the Director of Information Services 6. COLLECTIONS CARE Easel paintings and frame conservation project update The Deputy Curator will speak to her paper WA/15-16/20 7. OLD PALACE YARD Oral update from the Assistant Curator 8. LEADER S GROUP ON GOVERNANCE REPORT Oral update from the Chairman 9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS For information: House of Lords Collection Fund financial statement January 2016 WA/15-16/21 Next meeting: 16 March at 4.15pm in Committee Room G Philippa Wilson Clerk of the Works of Art Committee wilsonpm@parliament.uk

2 WA/15-16/15 Session rd Meeting WORKS OF ART COMMITTEE Wednesday 9 December 2015 Present: Baroness Bakewell Lord Dear Viscount Falkland Baroness Gale (Chairman) Earl of Glasgow Lord Inglewood Lord Luce Lord Magan of Castletown Baroness Rawlings Lord Turnberg Lord Vinson (agenda item 1 only) Apologies were received from Baroness Maddock; Baroness Gale took the Chair in her absence. Also present: David Beamish (Clerk of the Parliaments), Liz Hallam Smith (Director of Information Services), Malcolm Hay (Curator of Works of Art), Emma Gormley (Deputy Curator) and Emily Green (Assistant Curator). 1. BISHOPS PRAYER PROPOSAL FROM LORD VINSON The Curator presented the Committee with a sample of the proposed design layout for the prayer. The style of lettering had been selected carefully by the calligrapher in order to maximise legibility. A gilded parliamentary portcullis would be added above the prayer and beneath would be a short piece of explanatory text. The prayer would be mounted, framed and hung in the not content lobby. It is expected that the final artwork will be completed in February. Lord Vinson informed the Committee that having heard the prayer being read at the start of business for years, he thought it highlighted a moral message that unites all and recognises the wider purpose of what all Members should be doing in the House. The Committee asked if it might be possible to determine the author and a date to be included in the explanatory text beneath the prayer. The Clerk of the Parliaments agreed to contact the Parliamentary Archives to ascertain if records were held of that information. It was suggested that an unveiling event might be hosted by the Committee at which the Parliamentary Choir could be approached to sing the prayer. The Committee approved the design layout of the prayer and the Chairman thanked Lord Vinson for his generosity in making this donation.

3 2. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Exhibition to mark the bicentenary of Waterloo: The Deputy Curator reminded the Committee of the Royal Academy visit to view Maclise s Waterloo cartoon taking place at 9am on Friday 11 December. The Committee enquired what would happen to the drawing after the exhibition. As a trustee of the Royal Academy Lord Luce offered to raise this with the Royal Academy. It was suggested that an image of the cartoon could be used for the House of Lords Christmas cards in the future. Portrait Commission: The Curator updated the Committee on the progress of the portrait commission. The Lord Speaker had completed the first sitting with the artist and further sittings were planned. The Minutes of the meeting of 21 October were agreed. 3. THE ARMADA WEBSITE The Deputy Curator gave a presentation of the Armada Website to the Committee. The website makes the paintings available to view online and provides both a narrative of the Armada Paintings project and of the battle itself. The presentation included a demonstration of the site s functions, including a virtual tour of the Princes Chamber with clickable hotspots, a series of YouTube videos and a historical timeline. The website is available now for all Committee Members to preview. The Committee agreed that the website should be officially launched later in the year. It was suggested that Mark Pigott should be contacted to establish if he will be in London at a time when the launch event could be held and that the website developers should also be invited to the launch. 4. POSSIBLE ACQUISITIONS AND LOANS Loan of two statues of Magna Carta Barons to the Temple Church: The Curator spoke to the paper (WA/15-16/12). He reported that negotiations over the terms and conditions of the loan agreement had been satisfactorily concluded. Provision to protect the statues had been agreed by placing them behind Perspex screens. The Committee agreed the revised loan period terminating at Easter The Curator informed the Committee that he had received a letter from the British Library regarding their exhibition of the statues. In the letter it stated that the exhibition had been their most visited fee charging exhibition, which had received 128,300 visitors. Loan of Portrait of the 1 st Earl Attlee: The Curator spoke to the paper (WA/15-16/13). He set out the request from Anne Countess Attlee to withdraw the current loaned portrait and to replace it with a slightly larger portrait of 1 st Earl Attlee. The Committee agreed to the request and replacement. Portrait of the 1 st Earl of Mansfield: At the previous meeting the Committee viewed the portrait of the 1 st Earl of Mansfield and agreed that it would be an appropriate acquisition for the Parliamentary Art Collection. As there were insufficient funds to 2

4 purchase the portrait the Committee agreed an informal group would discuss a strategy for raising funds. The Lord Speaker had agreed to the group s request to host a viewing of the portrait on Wednesday 16 December, with refreshments donated by Liz Hallam Smith. The informal group provided a suggested invitee list to the Lord Speaker. The informal group will attend the viewing. The Chairman thanked Liz Hallam Smith for providing refreshments for this event. 5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Charge for plastic bags: From 5 October 2015 large businesses, with 250 or more employees, would have to charge five pence for all single use plastic carrier bags they provide. It is expected that retailers will donate the proceeds of the scheme to good causes of their choice. Retailers need to report to the Government about what they do with the money, which they will publish. The Clerk of the Parliaments updated the Committee that it had been agreed that the money from the House of Lords gift shop plastic bags would go to the House of Lords Collection Trust. The Trust would also receive a portion of the money taken by the Jubilee Shop. Memorial service for Lord Luke: A Service of Thanksgiving for the life and work of Lord Luke will be held at Noon on Tuesday 2nd February It was agreed that the Clerk would circulate details to Committee Members. Future meeting dates: 3 February at 5.00pm in Committee Room G 16 March at 4.15pm in Committee Room G The Committee adjourned. December 2015 Philippa Wilson tel: wilsonpm@parliament.uk 3

5 WA/15-16/16 Works of Art Committee Christmas Card Sales Paper by the Clerk of the Works of Art Committee Purpose 1. This paper provides a sales summary for the 2015 cards Christmas cards 2. There were three designs in As well as the usual red card with the gold portcullis, the other designs were: A Winter s Day, Westminster, by Herbert Menzies Marshall; the Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child by Sandro Botticelli; and Four Magna Cartas in Robing Room, The Committee agreed, at its meeting on 15 July 2015, that the view of the Palace of Westminster should be available in two sizes, one smaller to meet requirements for sending overseas. 4. Annex A details the Christmas card sales for 2015 and In addition a comparison of 2015 sales against 2014 by category of card is included. Sales of cards by the gift shop and Impress remained reasonably stable in 2015 and overall sales increased by 4%. The inclusion of the smaller A Winter s Day, Westminster, card saw an increase of sales in this category. Below is a breakdown of sales by categories: View of the Palace up by 25% Religious down by 34% Alternative down by 57% Portcullis up by 28%. 5. As in previous years, 50p from the sale of each pack of ten cards was set aside for charity. The Committee agreed, at its meeting on 16 July 2014, that the charitable donation from sales receipts should go solely to the House of Lords Collection Trust. The total raised for charity was 2, in 2015 ( 2, in 2014). Action 6. The Committee is invited to note the sales figures for Philippa Wilson Page 1 of 2 January 2016

6 Annex A: Christmas Card Sales 2015 Design A Winter s Day, Westminster by Herbert Menzies Marshall - Large A Winter s Day, Westminster by Herbert Menzies Marshall - Small The Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child by Sandro Botticelli Number of Packs Sold HoL Gift Shop Impress Impress Pre-printed Blank Total Four Magna Cartas in Robing Room, Portcullis Total Number of Packs Sold 2014 Design HoL Gift Shop Impress Pre-printed Impress Blank Total The Houses of Parliament Detail of Angel Ancient and Rather Touching Ceremony Portcullis Total Number of Packs Sold Variance (% Variance) Design Style HoL Gift Shop Impress Pre-printed Impress Blank Total View of the Palace 455 (38%) 273 (34%) 1 (0%) 729 (25%) Religious -124 (-31%) -162 (-74%) -13 (-5%) -299 (-34%) Alternative -354 (-126%) -37 (-49%) 79 (41%) -312 (-57%) Portcullis 72 (32%) 19 (28%) -4 (-18%) 87 (28%) Total 49 (2%) 93 (8%) 63 (5%) 205 (4%) * Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole figure Page 2 of 2

7 WA/15-16/17 Works of Art Committee Grant to the Works of Art Collection Fund Paper by the Director of Information Services and Librarian Purpose 1. This paper relates to the level of draw-down to the Works of Art Collection Fund by the Committee for Background 2. The Committee will be aware that a grant of up to 50,000 is made available each financial year through the Administration to the Works of Art Collection Fund for draw-down. 3. This money is held in Information Services Budgets for which I am responsible. In line with internal audit practice, each year I am required to review the amount which should be drawn down in the light of the balance in the Fund being carried forward. 4. As noted on each occasion by the Committee, no draw-down on this budget line was made for and for the two years previously. In a draw-down of 10,000 was made. 5. Since 2012, the Committee has continued to acquire Works of Art in line with its Acquisitions Policy, where such acquisitions represent value for money. 6. The balance of the Fund, including committed expenditure, currently stands at 23,761, to be carried forward into The Committee may wish either to make no additional draw-down for but to use the existing funds (as in the three years ), or to draw down 10,000 to top up the fund (as in ). 8. The budget line for future years remains at 50,000 and the level of the draw-down will continue to be reviewed annually. Action 9. The Committee is invited to advise on the level of the draw-down for Dr Elizabeth Hallam Smith Page 1 of 1 January 2016

8 WA/15-16/18 Works of Art Committee De Morgan Foundation Loan Paper by the Assistant Curator Purpose 1. To inform the Committee of the termination of the loan of five sets of decorated tiles from the De Morgan Foundation and the offer of a replacement of eight sets of tiles. Background 2. The De Morgan Foundation has asked for the return of five sets of tiles at the end of February They have been on loan to the House of Lords since 2011 together with two large vases which were returned recently. 3. The tiles requested for return are decorative floral and leaf patterns and have been on display in the Archbishop s Room in Millbank House. 4. The De Morgan Foundation owns an unparalleled collection of ceramics and oil paintings by William and Evelyn De Morgan. The husband and wife duo were key proponents of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the late 19 th and early 20 th Century. 5. The Foundation has offered eight replacement sets of tiles with a travel theme which were produced for the P&O Company. 6. Interpretation will be provided about the commission and the design schemes of the tiles. Information about the P&O Company commission 7. Between 1882 and 1900, De Morgan was commissioned to design schemes and provide tiles for twelve P&O liners. By the 1880s steamships had become a popular and luxurious way to travel. The main shipping companies employed specialist architects and designers to create a sense of style on what were referred to as floating hotels. This was a high-level commission from the P&O Company to decorate their cruise liners. 8. The 12 P&O liners which De Morgan designed decorative tiles for include the s.s.sutlej (1882), s.s.britannia (1887), s.s.oceana (1888), s.s.nubia (1895), s.s.malta (1895), s.s.sumatra (1895), s.s.china (1896), s.s.india (1896), s.s.egypt (1897), s.s.arabia (1898) and s.s.persia (1900). 9. The tiles are decorated with themes which portray evocative landmarks around the world and include Islamic arches, harbour scenes, a galleon, birds, sea creatures encompassed with stylistic nautical scenes. The tiles being offered on loan were duplicate copies made at the time in case of damage to those supplied to the liners. Page 1 of 2

9 10. The P&O archive at the Victoria & Albert Museum has photographs showing the interiors of the P&O liners richly decorated with De Morgan s tiles, along with drawings of the designs by De Morgan. 11. Other tiles and panels from the P&O commission are in the collection of the Southwark Art Gallery and the South London Gallery. 12. More information about the tiles and commission can be viewed on Action 13. The Committee is asked to note the termination of the current loan of five sets of tiles and to agree to acquire on loan the eight sets of tiles offered by the De Morgan Foundation. Emily Green January 2016 Page 2 of 2

10 WA/15-16/19 Works of Art Committee Preparatory Study for the British Empire panels by Sir Frank Brangwyn loan Paper by the Curator of Works of Art Purpose 1. The Committee is invited to consider whether to acquire on loan a preparatory study for the British Empire panels by Sir Frank Brangwyn for the Royal Gallery. Background 2. In 1925 Sir Frank Brangwyn was commissioned by the Earl of Iveagh to paint 16 murals for the empty wall compartments of the Royal Gallery as a memorial to those who had lost their lives during the 1st World War. However the images of war were regarded as too grim and the subject was subsequently changed to a synthetic panorama of the beauties of Great Britain revealing what the forces of the Empire had fought for. 3. When Brangwyn s British Empire panels for the Royal Gallery were completed, they were rejected by the House of Lords after a debate in the Chamber that lasted for four days. An alternative home for the completed murals was found at the Guildhall in Swansea. Offer of loan of Preparatory Study for the British Empire Panels 4. This study is owned by a private collector who has offered to lend it to the House of Lords. It is painted in oil on canvas and measures 4.22 x 69 cm (166 x 27 in). It is a narrow vertical section from the composition which Brangwyn was developing for the three upper level panels on the north wall of the Royal Gallery. Elements from this study are clearly recognisable in the First Cartoon which Brangwyn painted for this section of the scheme. 5. Although the height of the study makes it challenging to hang in the House of Lords buildings, there are four locations (two in the main building and two in Millbank House) which could be considered for its display. If it is acquired on loan, the proposal is to display alongside the study the holdings in the Parliamentary Art Collection which relate to Brangwyn s Royal Gallery scheme, in order to provide a good level of interpretation about this highly significant commission. 6. As the study has not been viewed yet by the Curator s Office, the Committee is invited to give approval in principle to the loan. A conservation assessment of the study will then be undertaken and the practicalities of display and the terms of the loan agreement determined. Page 1 of 2

11 Action 7. The Committee is invited to give approval in principle to the offer of loan of a preparatory study by Sir Frank Brangwyn for the British Empire Mural scheme for the Royal Gallery. Malcolm Hay January 2016 Page 2 of 2

12 WA/15-16/20 Works of Art Committee Collections Care: Easel Paintings and Frame Conservation Project Update Paper by the Deputy Curator Purpose 1. This paper informs the Committee about the recent easel paintings and frame conservation project undertaken in partnership with two UK Arts Education Institutions. Duty of Care for the Parliamentary Art Collection 2. As part of the duty of care stewardship responsibilities for the Parliamentary Art Collection, one of the principal core activities overseen by the Committee is the conservation of the Collection. This is managed by the Curator s Office in accordance with best conservation practice within the art gallery/museum sector. Background 3. The easel paintings and frame conservation project was established in partnership with the Conservation Departments of both City & Guilds of London Art School and the Courtauld Institute of Art. 4. The project was designed to promote the development of future conservators and promote specialist conservation training by providing students with access to selected pieces from the Parliamentary Art Collection. It is also an effective way to undertake routine conservation work on site and to assess future conservation priorities. 5. Under the careful supervision of specialist course tutors and the Collections Care Manager in the Curator s Office, students carried out condition checks and undertook treatment on a selection of paintings and frames. This included frames being brought up to the in-house standard specification. Full documentation of the work was also undertaken. 6. After a successful ten-day pilot in 2014, the project was repeated in September Over the two periods students assessed and treated forty five paintings across the Parliamentary Estate. Works located in the following areas of the House of Lords were included: Committee Corridor, Old Palace Yard, Peers Dining Room, The Attlee Room, and The Home Room. 7. A further two week project is planned for the autumn of Action 8. The Committee is invited to note the update. Emma Gormley Page 1 of 1 January 2016

13 WA/15-16/21 HOUSE OF LORDS COLLECTION FUND Financial Statement, January 2016 Note: credits are in normal type; debits are in italic Funds carried over from financial year 25, Vote for , Acquisitions Nil Commissions Portrait of Lord Speaker Spent 3,500 Committed 8,500 Total income 35, Total expenditure 3,500 Total committed expenditure 8,500 Balance 32, Balance (including committed expenditure) 23,761.33