David Bell (artist)
Encyclopedia
Ernest David Bell was an English
-born writer and curator, who was a controversial figure in Welsh
arts by challenging the country's artistic heritage, but was also a supporter of young Welsh talent in the field of contemporary arts in the 20th century.
, a translator of Welsh poetry to English, and Mabel Winifred. Privately educated in England, Bell gained his first appreciation of the arts at Merchant Taylors' School
. He graduated from the Royal College of Art
and joined the Egypt Exploration Society
, working in Sesebi in the Sudan
and Amarah
in Iraq
. With the outbreak of World War II
, Bell found work with the cartographical department of the Admiralty
, first in England, and then in Wales, being posted to the National Library of Wales
at Aberystwyth
.
After the end of the war, Bell was appointed the Assistant Director of the Welsh Arts Council and in 1951 he became the curator of the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
in Swansea
. In 1952, Bell, along with his father translated the works of Dafydd ap Gwilym
, and he continued translating Welsh works, like his father, through-out his later life. In 1957, Bell published the work The Artist in Wales, in which he implied that Wales, as a country, did not possess a worthwhile visual cultural history. This caused a backlash from his others in the field of arts in Wales and the national media.
Although challenging the Welsh field of arts, Bell was a keen supporter of young talent in the country, and gave significant support to living artists, buying works from contemporary artists, such as Ceri Richards
for the Glynn Vivian Museum.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born writer and curator, who was a controversial figure in Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
arts by challenging the country's artistic heritage, but was also a supporter of young Welsh talent in the field of contemporary arts in the 20th century.
Personal history
Bell was born in 1915 in London, to Idris BellIdris Bell
Sir Harold Idris Bell CB OBE was a British papyrologist and scholar of Welsh literature....
, a translator of Welsh poetry to English, and Mabel Winifred. Privately educated in England, Bell gained his first appreciation of the arts at Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
. He graduated from the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
and joined the Egypt Exploration Society
Egypt Exploration Society
The Egypt Exploration Society is the foremost learned society in the United Kingdom promoting the field of Egyptology....
, working in Sesebi in the Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and Amarah
Amarah
Amarah , is a city in southeastern Iraq, located on a low ridge next to the Tigris River waterway south of Baghdad about 50 km from the border with Iran. It lies at the northern tip of the marshlands between the Tigris and Euphrates....
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. With the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Bell found work with the cartographical department of the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, first in England, and then in Wales, being posted to the National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
at Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
.
After the end of the war, Bell was appointed the Assistant Director of the Welsh Arts Council and in 1951 he became the curator of the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is the public art gallery of the city of Swansea, Wales. The gallery is situated in Alexandra Road, near Swansea railway station, opposite the old Swansea Central Library and near Swansea Central police station...
in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. In 1952, Bell, along with his father translated the works of Dafydd ap Gwilym
Dafydd ap Gwilym
Dafydd ap Gwilym , is regarded as one of the leading Welsh poets and amongst the great poets of Europe in the Middle Ages. Dafydd ap Gwilym (c. 1315/1320 – c. 1350/1370), is regarded as one of the leading Welsh poets and amongst the great poets of Europe in the Middle Ages. Dafydd ap Gwilym...
, and he continued translating Welsh works, like his father, through-out his later life. In 1957, Bell published the work The Artist in Wales, in which he implied that Wales, as a country, did not possess a worthwhile visual cultural history. This caused a backlash from his others in the field of arts in Wales and the national media.
Although challenging the Welsh field of arts, Bell was a keen supporter of young talent in the country, and gave significant support to living artists, buying works from contemporary artists, such as Ceri Richards
Ceri Richards
-Biography:Richards was born in the village of Dunvant, near Swansea, the son of Thomas Coslett Richards and Sarah Richards . He and his younger brother and sister, Owen and Esther, were brought up in a highly cultured, working-class environment...
for the Glynn Vivian Museum.
External links
- David Bell National Libaray of Wales