Sir Eric MacLagan
Encyclopedia
Sir Eric Robert Dalrymple Maclagan KCVO, CBE, FSA, (1879–1951) was a British museum director.
. He had a sister and two half-brothers. Educated at Winchester College, he read classics at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in 1902.
In 1913 Maclagan married Helen Elizabeth, daughter of the Commander the Hon. Frederick Lascelles, second son of the fourth Earl of Harewood. They had two sons: the elder, Michael
became a distinguished historian, antiquary
and herald
; the younger, Gerald, was killed in action serving with the Rhodesian air force in 1942.
.
Whilst at the museum, Maclagan wrote many articles and catalogues. He also wrote an essay entitled 'The Bayeux Tapestry', published (as a King Penguin
) in 1943, which became a minor best seller.
During his time as Director he was personally responsible for a number of important public exhibitions. Among the most outstanding were the exhibitions of the works of art belonging to the livery companies of the City of London (1926), of English Medieval Art (1930), the William Morris Centenary exhibition (1934), the exhibition of the Eumorfopoulos
collection (1936) and the exhibition of sculptures which had been moved from Westminster Abbey during the Second World War (1945).
and was one of the first private collectors to buy the work of Henry Moore
, he also unveiled the painting of the crucifixion by Graham Sutherland
in the church of St Matthew at Northampton.
He had a profound interest in literature and poetry. He made several translations of the works of French poets, especially Arthur Rimbaud
and Paul Valéry
and published a volume of poems, 'Leaves in the Road' in 1901 whilst an undergraduate. He designed several bookplates including one for his friend Bernard Berenson
.
at Harvard. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
, acting as vice-president from 1932 to 1936, president of the Museums Association from 1935–36, and chairman of the National Buildings Record. He was also appointed to lectureships at Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin and Hull and was given honorary degrees at Birmingham and Oxford. As chairman for the fine arts committee of the British Council
from 1941, Maclagan organised many exhibitions sent abroad by the council after the war. He was a gifted lecturer, proficient in French and German.
He was a keen churchman and took a prominent part in the affairs of the Anglo-Catholic movement. He performed much public service on behalf of the church through the Cathedrals Advisory Council and the Central Council for the Care of Churches, which for some time was housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Maclagan died on 14 September 1951 whilst travelling in Spain.
Early years
Born on 4 December in 1879 in London, he was the only son of William Dalrymple Maclagan, Archbishop of York and his second wife Augusta Anne, daughter of the sixth Lord BarringtonWilliam Barrington, 6th Viscount Barrington
William Keppel Barrington, 6th Viscount Barrington , styled The Honourable from 1814 until 1829, was a British businessman and politician.-Background and education:...
. He had a sister and two half-brothers. Educated at Winchester College, he read classics at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in 1902.
Early Career at the Victoria and Albert Museum
In 1905 he joined the staff at the Victoria and Albert Museum as an assistant in the Textiles Department. During his time there he produced a 'Guide to English Ecclesiastical Embroideries'. After a time he transferred to the Department of Architecture and Sculpture where he worked under Mr A B Skinner. He became head of this department when Mr Skinner died in 1908. One of his first tasks was to rearrange the collection of Italian sculpture and start the large 'Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes', which was published many years later in 1924.In 1913 Maclagan married Helen Elizabeth, daughter of the Commander the Hon. Frederick Lascelles, second son of the fourth Earl of Harewood. They had two sons: the elder, Michael
Michael Maclagan
Michael Maclagan, CVO, FSA, FRHistS was a British historian, antiquary and herald. He was Fellow and Tutor in Modern History at Trinity College, Oxford for more than forty years, and a long-serving officer of arms.-Career:Maclagan was educated at Winchester College and Christ Church, Oxford...
became a distinguished historian, antiquary
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
and herald
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
; the younger, Gerald, was killed in action serving with the Rhodesian air force in 1942.
France
In 1916 he was temporarily transferred to the Foreign Office, and later to the Ministry of Information. He became head of the Ministry's bureau in Paris and its controller for France in 1918. In 1919 he was attached to the British peace delegation and was present at the signing of the treaty. For his services in France, Maclagan was made a CBE in 1919. While in Paris, he was a member of the "set" surrounding the novelist Edith WhartonEdith Wharton
Edith Wharton , was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, short story writer, and designer.- Early life and marriage:...
.
Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum
After his time in France, Maclagan returned to the Victoria and Albert Museum and on the retirement of Sir Cecil Harcourt Smith in 1924 he was appointed Director and Secretary of the museum. During his twenty one years in office the museum increased its reputation as a centre for research and learning. He produced the 'Catalogue of Italian Sculpture' in collaboration with Margaret Longhurst, an assistant keeper in the Sculpture Department. As Director he also worked towards broadening the museum's appeal with the public, he did this by selling picture post-cards and Christmas cards of museum objects, issuing a series of sixpenny picture books (including his own, 'Children in Sculpture' and 'Portrait Busts'), and organising free public lectures. He introduced 'Object of the Week' which featured a different object from the museum's collection, with a descriptive label, being placed in the entrance hall every Monday. He also wanted to rearrange the museum according to primary and secondary collections, but due to the financial climate of the thirties this was not realised until Sir Leigh Aston reassembled the collections in 1945.Whilst at the museum, Maclagan wrote many articles and catalogues. He also wrote an essay entitled 'The Bayeux Tapestry', published (as a King Penguin
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
) in 1943, which became a minor best seller.
During his time as Director he was personally responsible for a number of important public exhibitions. Among the most outstanding were the exhibitions of the works of art belonging to the livery companies of the City of London (1926), of English Medieval Art (1930), the William Morris Centenary exhibition (1934), the exhibition of the Eumorfopoulos
George Eumorfopoulos
George Aristides Eumorfopoulos , was a British collector of Chinese, Korean and Near Eastern art....
collection (1936) and the exhibition of sculptures which had been moved from Westminster Abbey during the Second World War (1945).
Other Interests
Despite being a specialist in the field of early Christian and Italian Renaissance art, Maclagan also admired many modern artists. In his personal collection he had a bust of himself made by Ivan MeštrovićIvan Meštrovic
Ivan Meštrović was a Croatian and Yugoslav sculptor and architect born in Vrpolje, Croatia...
and was one of the first private collectors to buy the work of Henry Moore
Henry Moore
Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
, he also unveiled the painting of the crucifixion by Graham Sutherland
Graham Sutherland
Graham Vivien Sutherland OM was an English artist.-Early life:He was born in Streatham, attending Homefield Preparatory School, Sutton. He was then educated at Epsom College, Surrey before going up to Goldsmiths, University of London...
in the church of St Matthew at Northampton.
He had a profound interest in literature and poetry. He made several translations of the works of French poets, especially Arthur Rimbaud
Arthur Rimbaud
Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud was a French poet. Born in Charleville, Ardennes, he produced his best known works while still in his late teens—Victor Hugo described him at the time as "an infant Shakespeare"—and he gave up creative writing altogether before the age of 21. As part of the decadent...
and Paul Valéry
Paul Valéry
Ambroise-Paul-Toussaint-Jules Valéry was a French poet, essayist, and philosopher. His interests were sufficiently broad that he can be classified as a polymath...
and published a volume of poems, 'Leaves in the Road' in 1901 whilst an undergraduate. He designed several bookplates including one for his friend Bernard Berenson
Bernard Berenson
Bernard Berenson was an American art historian specializing in the Renaissance. He was a major figure in pioneering art attribution and therefore establishing the market for paintings by the "Old Masters".-Personal life:...
.
Other Offices
Maclagan was knighted in 1933, and in 1945 he was appointed KCVO. He held important appointments both at home and abroad. In 1927-8 he was Charles Eliot Norton professorCharles Eliot Norton Lectures
The Charles Eliot Norton Professorship of Poetry at Harvard University was established in 1925 as an annual lectureship in "poetry in the broadest sense" and named for the university's former professor of fine arts. Distinguished creative figures and scholars in the arts, including painting,...
at Harvard. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
, acting as vice-president from 1932 to 1936, president of the Museums Association from 1935–36, and chairman of the National Buildings Record. He was also appointed to lectureships at Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin and Hull and was given honorary degrees at Birmingham and Oxford. As chairman for the fine arts committee of the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
from 1941, Maclagan organised many exhibitions sent abroad by the council after the war. He was a gifted lecturer, proficient in French and German.
He was a keen churchman and took a prominent part in the affairs of the Anglo-Catholic movement. He performed much public service on behalf of the church through the Cathedrals Advisory Council and the Central Council for the Care of Churches, which for some time was housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Maclagan died on 14 September 1951 whilst travelling in Spain.