Ralph Nicholson Wornum
Encyclopedia
Ralph Nicholson Wornum was an English artist, art historian and administrator. He was Keeper and Secretary of the National Gallery of London from 1855 until his death.
the pianoforte maker, and was born at Thornton, near Norham
, Northumberland
, on 29 December 1812. Having studied at University College London
in 1832, he gave up plans to read for the bar, and attended the studio of Henry Sass
. In 1834 he went abroad, spending six years in visiting galleries, in Munich, Dresden, Rome, Florence, and Paris.
came to study with him. He was honourably mentioned in the Westminster Hall cartoon competition of 1840. In 1848 Wornum was appointed lecturer on art to the government schools of design, and lectured around England. Among his topics was Islamic design, and he suggested that his students should visit Owen Jones
's reconstruction of the Alhambra
at the Sydenham Crystal Palace.
In 1852 he was appointed librarian and keeper of casts to the Government schools of design, then under the direction of the Board of Trade
. A reorganisation created the Department of Practical Art, and Henry Cole
sent Wornum on a fact-finding mission to France.
and George Saunders Thwaites, as jointly Keeper of the National Gallery and Secretary to the trustees, on the recommendation of Sir Charles Eastlake, a reforming move in the administration of the Gallery, with a large increase in the salary. Eastlake himself was appointed Director of the Gallery in March 1855, and in the following July were issued Treasury minutes entirely reconstituting the administration. In 1860−1 Wornum was chiefly instrumental in getting the Turner collection, which had been banished first to Marlborough House
, and then to South Kensington
(1856−60), restored to its place in the National Gallery, in accordance with the terms of the artist's bequest. Wornum worked with John Ruskin
on this project. Turner's legacy included some drawings considered obscene; Wornum burned them, and Ruskin watched him do it.
Wornum's energies were devoted to improvement and development, and he deprecated the separation of the pictures by British artists from those by foreigners. He died at his residence, 20 Belsize Square, South Hampstead, on 15 December 1877, leaving a widow and a large family.
's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, while he also wrote for the abortive Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge
. In 1846 he began working for the Art Journal
, and, having drawn attention to the shortcomings of the National Gallery catalogues then in circulation, he was authorised by Sir Robert Peel to compile an official catalogue. This appeared in 1847, and served as a model for similar publications.
In 1848 he published an Essay upon the Schools of Design in France. In 1851 he was awarded the prize offered by the Art Journal for the best essay on ‘The Exhibition of 1851 as a Lesson in Taste.’
In 1855 Wornum edited and practically rewrote a Biographical Catalogue of the Principal Italian Painters, ‘by a lady’ (Maria Farquhar), while in 1856 he contributed the Lives of British artists to Edward Shepherd Creasy
's British Empire. During 1861 he edited, in a sumptuous folio, with memoir and notes, The Turner Gallery, forming a series of sixty engravings. Walter Thornbury, in his Life of Turner (1862), passed some disparaging remarks upon Wornum; a reply came in an article in the Quarterly Review
(April 1862), in which Wornum's work was commended. In the introduction to the Turner Gallery Wornum pleaded for an enlargement of the Trafalgar Square
galleries, which were quite inadequate to contain the 725 pictures then belonging to the nation.
Wornum's major publications were:
In addition Wornum edited:
Attribution
Early life
He was the son of Robert WornumRobert Wornum
Robert Wornum was a piano maker working in London during the first half of the 19th century. He is best known for introducing small cottage and oblique uprights and an action considered to be the predecessor of the modern upright action which was used in Europe through the early 20th century...
the pianoforte maker, and was born at Thornton, near Norham
Norham
Norham is a village in Northumberland, England, just south of the River Tweed and the border with Scotland.It is the site of the 12th century Norham Castle, and was for many years the centre for the Norhamshire exclave of County Durham...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, on 29 December 1812. Having studied at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1832, he gave up plans to read for the bar, and attended the studio of Henry Sass
Henry Sass
Henry Sass was an English artist and teacher of painting, who founded an important art school, Sass's Academy , in London, to provide training for those seeking to enter the Royal Academy. Many distinguished British painters received their early training here...
. In 1834 he went abroad, spending six years in visiting galleries, in Munich, Dresden, Rome, Florence, and Paris.
Art and design in London
At the end of 1839 Wornum settled in London as a portrait-painter. Thomas SibsonThomas Sibson
Thomas Sibson was an English artist.-Life:Thr son of Francis and Jane Sibson, and younger brother of Francis Sibson, he was born in the parish of Cross Canonby, Cumberland, in March 1817. He started work in the counting-house of an uncle in Manchester. Deciding to become an artist, he came to...
came to study with him. He was honourably mentioned in the Westminster Hall cartoon competition of 1840. In 1848 Wornum was appointed lecturer on art to the government schools of design, and lectured around England. Among his topics was Islamic design, and he suggested that his students should visit Owen Jones
Owen Jones (architect)
Owen Jones was a London-born architect and designer of Welsh descent. He was a versatile architect and designer, and one of the most influential design theorists of the nineteenth century...
's reconstruction of the Alhambra
Alhambra
The Alhambra , the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra , is a palace and fortress complex located in the Granada, Andalusia, Spain...
at the Sydenham Crystal Palace.
In 1852 he was appointed librarian and keeper of casts to the Government schools of design, then under the direction of the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
. A reorganisation created the Department of Practical Art, and Henry Cole
Henry Cole
Sir Henry Cole was an English civil servant and inventor who facilitated many innovations in commerce and education in 19th century Britain...
sent Wornum on a fact-finding mission to France.
At the National Gallery
In December 1854 he was chosen as successor to Thomas UwinsThomas Uwins
Thomas Uwins was an English portrait, subject, genre and landscape painter , and a book illustrator...
and George Saunders Thwaites, as jointly Keeper of the National Gallery and Secretary to the trustees, on the recommendation of Sir Charles Eastlake, a reforming move in the administration of the Gallery, with a large increase in the salary. Eastlake himself was appointed Director of the Gallery in March 1855, and in the following July were issued Treasury minutes entirely reconstituting the administration. In 1860−1 Wornum was chiefly instrumental in getting the Turner collection, which had been banished first to Marlborough House
Marlborough House
Marlborough House is a mansion in Westminster, London, in Pall Mall just east of St James's Palace. It was built for Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, the favourite and confidante of Queen Anne. The Duchess wanted her new house to be "strong, plain and convenient and good"...
, and then to South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
(1856−60), restored to its place in the National Gallery, in accordance with the terms of the artist's bequest. Wornum worked with John Ruskin
John Ruskin
John Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects ranging from geology to architecture, myth to ornithology, literature to education, and botany to political...
on this project. Turner's legacy included some drawings considered obscene; Wornum burned them, and Ruskin watched him do it.
Wornum's energies were devoted to improvement and development, and he deprecated the separation of the pictures by British artists from those by foreigners. He died at his residence, 20 Belsize Square, South Hampstead, on 15 December 1877, leaving a widow and a large family.
Works
From 1840 he contributed to the Penny Cyclopædia, and in 1841 to William SmithWilliam Smith (lexicographer)
Sir William Smith Kt. was a noted English lexicographer.-Early life:Born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents, he was originally destined for a theological career, but instead was articled to a solicitor. In his spare time he taught himself classics, and when he entered University College...
's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, while he also wrote for the abortive Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge
Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge
The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge , founded in 1826, and wound up in 1848, was a Whiggish London organisation that published inexpensive texts intended to adapt scientific and similarly high-minded material for the rapidly expanding reading public...
. In 1846 he began working for the Art Journal
Art Journal
Art Journal may refer to:* Art Journal , 1941–present, published by College Art Association of America* The Art Journal, 1839–1912, London* Art diary, art journal or visual journal, a daily journal kept by artists...
, and, having drawn attention to the shortcomings of the National Gallery catalogues then in circulation, he was authorised by Sir Robert Peel to compile an official catalogue. This appeared in 1847, and served as a model for similar publications.
In 1848 he published an Essay upon the Schools of Design in France. In 1851 he was awarded the prize offered by the Art Journal for the best essay on ‘The Exhibition of 1851 as a Lesson in Taste.’
In 1855 Wornum edited and practically rewrote a Biographical Catalogue of the Principal Italian Painters, ‘by a lady’ (Maria Farquhar), while in 1856 he contributed the Lives of British artists to Edward Shepherd Creasy
Edward Shepherd Creasy
Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy was an English historian. He was born in Bexley, England. He was educated at Eton College and King's College, Cambridge and called to the Bar in 1837. In 1840, he began teaching history at the University of London. He was knighted in 1860 and assumed the position of...
's British Empire. During 1861 he edited, in a sumptuous folio, with memoir and notes, The Turner Gallery, forming a series of sixty engravings. Walter Thornbury, in his Life of Turner (1862), passed some disparaging remarks upon Wornum; a reply came in an article in the Quarterly Review
Quarterly Review
The Quarterly Review was a literary and political periodical founded in March 1809 by the well known London publishing house John Murray. It ceased publication in 1967.-Early years:...
(April 1862), in which Wornum's work was commended. In the introduction to the Turner Gallery Wornum pleaded for an enlargement of the Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
galleries, which were quite inadequate to contain the 725 pictures then belonging to the nation.
Wornum's major publications were:
- ‘The Epochs of Painting: a biographical and critical Essay on Painting and Painters of all Times and many Places,’ London, 1847; enlarged, 1859 and 1864. This was dedicated by Wornum to the memory of his father. Appended to the later editions is ‘a table of the contributions of some of the more eminent painters to the exhibitions of the Royal Academy.’ This was adopted as a text-book for art school examinations.
- ‘Analysis of Ornament: the Characteristics of Style and Introduction to the Study of the History of Ornamental Art,’ London, 1856; 8th edit. 1893.
- ‘Some Account of the Life and Works of Hans Holbein, Painter, of Augsburg, with numerous illustrations,’ 1867. Appended was a catalogue of portraits and drawings by Holbein at Windsor.
- ‘Saul of Tarsus; or Paul and Swedenborg. By a Layman,’ London, 1877. Wornum had been a member of the New Church, though as a ‘non-separatist’ he remained in communion with the Church of England. In this book he expressed the notion of conflict between the teaching of Christ and the theology of St. Paul.
In addition Wornum edited:
- ‘Lectures on Painting’ [by Barry, Opie, and Fuseli], 1848, for the Bohn Library;
- Horace Walpole's ‘Anecdotes of Painting in England,’ with notes and emendations, London, 1849, 3 vols. (a revised edition appeared in 1888);
- ‘The National Gallery;’ a selection of pictures by the old masters, photographed by Leonida Caldesi (with annotations), London, 1868−73;
- ‘Etchings from the National Gallery,’ 18 plates, with notes, two series, 1876−8.
External links
Attribution