Tom Honeyman
Encyclopedia
Dr. Thomas "Tom" J. Honeyman (born Glasgow
1891–1971) was the director of the Glasgow Art Gallery
.
Born in Glasgow
, the son of engine driver Thomas Honeyman (1858–1934) and Elspeth Smith (1860–1937), Honeyman studied medicine at Glasgow prior to service in the trenches during the First World War. He practised medicine in the East End of Glasgow, before moving to London to become an art dealer. In London he met many great artists and when the Glasgow Corporation were looking for a new Director for their Kelvingrove Art Gallery they consulted Honeyman who eventually decided he might like the job. Taking up the post in 1939, he went on to make an enormous contribution to artistic and cultural life of Glasgow during his 15 years in the post. He greatly increased the profile of the Glasgow Art Galleries through clever publicity and successful exhibitions which, for example, brought queues to see Van Gogh's paintings.
His art purchases were prudent and wise, buying works which have subsequently gained enormously in value. In 1952, Honeyman became famous for his purchase of Salvador Dali
's Christ of St. John of the Cross. A controversial purchase at the time, both because of its exceptional cost (£8200) and contemporary style, it hung for many years in the Kelvingrove before being moved to its present location in St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
in 1993. It has since returned to the newly refurbished Kelvingrove. Now regarded as priceless, it is one of the jewels of the city's art collection and has also proven commercially successful, with shows and reproduction fees covering the original cost several times over.
Honeyman's reputation was such that he was able to attract several major gifts to the gallery, including that of Sir William Burrell
(1861–1958) in 1944. Yet, Honeyman was forced to leave his post in 1954 having lost the support of his political master, the new chairman of the Glasgow Corporation Art Committee.
Passionate about the cultural life of Glasgow, Honeyman, with assistance from James Bridie
, also founded the Glasgow Citizen's Theatre. He was also involved in setting up the Scottish Tourist Board.
For the interest of Honeyman genealogists, Dr Tom Honeyman's grandparents were Alexander Honeyman (1825–1911) and Janet Hall (1825–1911). Alexander Honeyman was a builder in an around Collessie and Ladybank, Fife. Janet Hall came from Clatt, near Rayne
in Aberdeen. Alexander's parents were Thomas Honeyman (1790–1880) and Eliza Shepherd (1795–1868).
Honeyman wrote an autobiographical book, largely memoirs of his time as Director of the Art Gallery, called Art and Audacity (Collins, 1971).
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
1891–1971) was the director of the Glasgow Art Gallery
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a museum and art gallery in Glasgow, Scotland. The building houses one of Europe's great civic art collections...
.
Born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, the son of engine driver Thomas Honeyman (1858–1934) and Elspeth Smith (1860–1937), Honeyman studied medicine at Glasgow prior to service in the trenches during the First World War. He practised medicine in the East End of Glasgow, before moving to London to become an art dealer. In London he met many great artists and when the Glasgow Corporation were looking for a new Director for their Kelvingrove Art Gallery they consulted Honeyman who eventually decided he might like the job. Taking up the post in 1939, he went on to make an enormous contribution to artistic and cultural life of Glasgow during his 15 years in the post. He greatly increased the profile of the Glasgow Art Galleries through clever publicity and successful exhibitions which, for example, brought queues to see Van Gogh's paintings.
His art purchases were prudent and wise, buying works which have subsequently gained enormously in value. In 1952, Honeyman became famous for his purchase of Salvador Dali
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
's Christ of St. John of the Cross. A controversial purchase at the time, both because of its exceptional cost (£8200) and contemporary style, it hung for many years in the Kelvingrove before being moved to its present location in St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
The St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art is a museum of religion in Glasgow, Scotland. It is quoted as being the only public museum in the world devoted solely to this subject, though another notable museum of this kind is the State Historical Museum of Religion in St.Petersburg...
in 1993. It has since returned to the newly refurbished Kelvingrove. Now regarded as priceless, it is one of the jewels of the city's art collection and has also proven commercially successful, with shows and reproduction fees covering the original cost several times over.
Honeyman's reputation was such that he was able to attract several major gifts to the gallery, including that of Sir William Burrell
William Burrell
Sir William Burrell was a Glaswegian shipping merchant and philanthropist. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1861. He was the third of nine children in a family, which ran a shipping business....
(1861–1958) in 1944. Yet, Honeyman was forced to leave his post in 1954 having lost the support of his political master, the new chairman of the Glasgow Corporation Art Committee.
Passionate about the cultural life of Glasgow, Honeyman, with assistance from James Bridie
James Bridie
James Bridie was the pseudonym of a Scottish playwright, screenwriter and surgeon whose real name was Osborne Henry Mavor....
, also founded the Glasgow Citizen's Theatre. He was also involved in setting up the Scottish Tourist Board.
For the interest of Honeyman genealogists, Dr Tom Honeyman's grandparents were Alexander Honeyman (1825–1911) and Janet Hall (1825–1911). Alexander Honeyman was a builder in an around Collessie and Ladybank, Fife. Janet Hall came from Clatt, near Rayne
Rayne
-Place names:United States*Rayne, Louisiana**Rayne High School*Rayne Township, Indiana County, PennsylvaniaUnited Kingdom*Rayne, Essex, England*Rayne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland-People:*Dana Rayne, singer*Max Rayne, Baron Rayne, British philanthropist...
in Aberdeen. Alexander's parents were Thomas Honeyman (1790–1880) and Eliza Shepherd (1795–1868).
Honeyman wrote an autobiographical book, largely memoirs of his time as Director of the Art Gallery, called Art and Audacity (Collins, 1971).