Holburne Museum of Art
Encyclopedia
The Holburne Museum of Art (formerly known as the Holburne of Menstrie Museum) is in Sydney Pleasure Gardens, Sydney Place
, in the Bathwick
area of Bath, Somerset
, England.
in 1795–6. During the course of the nineteenth century the building went through a number of changes of use, as well as structural alterations, until in the early years of this century (1913–16) it was converted by the architect Sir Reginald Blomfield
to become the present home of the Holburne Museum. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade I listed building.
for its education standards. Primarily aimed at those who could afford to board their sons, the school had some success and produced a number of notable alumni. Sydney College provided the opposition to Clifton College
in the latter's first ever rugby match.
, Old Master
paintings, Italian bronzes
such as the Susioni once owned by king Louis XIV, maiolica
, porcelain
, glass
, furniture
and portrait miniatures. These have been added to with examples of landscapes by Francesco Guardi
and J. M. W. Turner
, and portraits by George Stubbs
, Allan Ramsay, Johann Zoffany
and Thomas Gainsborough
. The museum also owns portraits by modern artists such as David Fisher
, who won the Museum's 2008 competition for a commissioned portrait.
The Holburne is the official museum of the University of Bath
, though it has also engaged in collaboration with nearby University of Bristol
.
When open, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
Sydney Place, Bath
Sydney Place in the Bathwick area of Bath, Somerset, England was built around 1800. Many of the properties are listed buildings.Numbers 1 to 12 were planned by Thomas Baldwin around 1795. The 3 storey buildings have mansard roofs. Jane Austen lived in Number 4 from 1801 to 1805.The 3 storey houses...
, in the Bathwick
Bathwick
Bathwick is an electoral ward in the City of Bath, England, on the opposite bank of the River Avon to the historic city centre.Bathwick was part of the hundred of Bath Forum....
area of Bath, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England.
History
The building was originally designed as the Sydney Hotel, and was built by Charles Harcourt MastersCharles Harcourt Masters
Charles Harcourt Masters was an English surveyor and architect in Bath.He made a set of maps of Bath turnpike roads in 1786. In 1789 made a scale model of Bath which he displayed at his home, 21 Old Orchard Street, and later in London: the plans were published in 1794...
in 1795–6. During the course of the nineteenth century the building went through a number of changes of use, as well as structural alterations, until in the early years of this century (1913–16) it was converted by the architect Sir Reginald Blomfield
Reginald Blomfield
Sir Reginald Theodore Blomfield was a prolific British architect, garden designer and author of the Victorian and Edwardian period.- Early life and career :...
to become the present home of the Holburne Museum. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade I listed building.
Sydney College, Bath
For a relatively short period, the building housed Sydney College, a school set up to rival Clifton CollegeClifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
for its education standards. Primarily aimed at those who could afford to board their sons, the school had some success and produced a number of notable alumni. Sydney College provided the opposition to Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
in the latter's first ever rugby match.
Notable alumni of Sydney College, Bath
- Edward Fortescue WrightEdward Fortescue WrightEdward Fortescue Wright CMG was a Gloucestershire cricketer who emigrated to the West Indies. He was a right-handed batsman and a round-arm right-hand fast bowler. He was educated at Sydney College, Bath...
, cricketer - Lennard StokesLennard StokesDr. Lennard Stokes was a rugby union international who represented England from 1875 to 1881. He also captained his country on five occasions, notably in the first ever match against Wales...
, rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international and former captain of England - Eugene William OatesEugene William OatesEugene William Oates was an English naturalist.Oates was born in Sicily and educated in Bath, England. For a time he attended Sydney College, Bath and later under private tutors. He was a civil servant in the Public Works Department in India and Burma from 1867 to 1899...
, English naturalist
The museum
The Holburne Museum houses the art collection formed by Sir (Thomas) William Holburne, (1793-1874), including silverSilver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, Old Master
Old Master
"Old Master" is a term for a European painter of skill who worked before about 1800, or a painting by such an artist. An "old master print" is an original print made by an artist in the same period...
paintings, Italian bronzes
Bronze sculpture
Bronze is the most popular metal for cast metal sculptures; a cast bronze sculpture is often called simply a "bronze".Common bronze alloys have the unusual and desirable property of expanding slightly just before they set, thus filling the finest details of a mold. Then, as the bronze cools, it...
such as the Susioni once owned by king Louis XIV, maiolica
Maiolica
Maiolica is Italian tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance. It is decorated in bright colours on a white background, frequently depicting historical and legendary scenes.-Name:...
, porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
, glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
, furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
and portrait miniatures. These have been added to with examples of landscapes by Francesco Guardi
Francesco Guardi
Francesco Lazzaro Guardi was a Venetian painter of veduta, a member of the Venetian School. He is considered to be among the last practitioners, along with his brothers, of the classic Venetian school of painting....
and J. M. W. Turner
J. M. W. Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner RA was an English Romantic landscape painter, watercolourist and printmaker. Turner was considered a controversial figure in his day, but is now regarded as the artist who elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivalling history painting...
, and portraits by George Stubbs
George Stubbs
George Stubbs was an English painter, best known for his paintings of horses.-Biography:Stubbs was born in Liverpool, the son of a currier and leather merchant. Information on his life up to age thirty-five is sparse, relying almost entirely on notes made by fellow artist Ozias Humphry towards the...
, Allan Ramsay, Johann Zoffany
Johann Zoffany
Johan Zoffany, Zoffani or Zauffelij was a German neoclassical painter, active mainly in England...
and Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
. The museum also owns portraits by modern artists such as David Fisher
David Fisher (artist)
David Fisher is an award-winning English artist and designer based in Midsomer Norton, Somerset. He was a prolific designer and painter of pub signs before securing a unique commission to create vast murals to improve UK service stations. He has won many awards including the Holburne Museum of...
, who won the Museum's 2008 competition for a commissioned portrait.
The Holburne is the official museum of the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
, though it has also engaged in collaboration with nearby University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
.
When open, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year.