Collection: Victoria Gallery & Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  Since its inception, the University of Liverpool has been fortunate to receive gifts and bequests from many distinguished benefactors.

  Early benefactors strived to assist the University in its ambitions to emulate the old universities in its cultural offer – with buildings, museum collections and fine and decorative art.

  Originally, up to 10 departments housed their own museums, but in most cases, these collections became orphaned by the late 20^th Century and since 2004, these have been under the care and responsibility of the Heritage Collections (now part of the Art & Heritage Department).

  The collections were taken under centralised management at different times. The Art Collections Department has curated the fine and decorative art, furniture, ceramics, sculpture and silver since the mid-1970s, and the Heritage (museum collections) were added in 2004.

  The University’s original purpose-built building, designed by Alfred Waterhouse, was renovated and opened to the public as the Victoria Gallery & Museum in 2008, with the intention that this would be the University’s permanent contribution to the city in Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture year.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Fine and Decorative Art

  Oil Paintings

  The collection includes a handful of international items but is essentially British, dating from the seventeenth century to the present. Due to the variety of benefactors no movement or periods are systematically represented. Nevertheless the collection includes fine works by a number of important artists.

  The most important non-British group of pictures in the collection are three early oil paintings by John James Audubon. These were produced in 1826 during Audubon’s visit to Liverpool while he was seeking out patrons for the publication of Birds of America. Together with the drawings and watercolours on display in the Audubon gallery, this comprises the largest holding of J.J. Audubon’s original work outside America.

  The remaining international paintings are mainly landscapes either by Dutch or Italian painters of the seventeenth century and were collected by Matthew Gregson (gift to the University from Isobel Gregson in 1906).

  A small bequest of Greek, Cypriot and Russian icons from the seventeenth – nineteenth centuries was made to the University by Professor Roaf in 1986.

  The bulk of the collection of oil paintings are British, beginning with some portraits in the School of Van Dyck. Among the best known from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries are works by Joseph Wright of Derby, J.M.W. Turner, George Morland, Nathan Theodore Fielding and the marine artists Matthew Condy and Samuel Walters.

  From the late nineteenth century onwards the most important paintings are by Atkinson Grimshaw, Richard Ansdell, Edward Atkinson Hornel, Robert Anning Bell.

  Due to a positive policy of collecting contemporary art in the post-war years, the University holds a collection of significant Mid-20^th Century paintings including work by Lucian Freud, Gillian Ayres, Sandra Blow, Frank Bowling, Adrian Berg, Robert Colquhoun and Euan Uglow. Later additions include works by Peter Lanyon, Bridget Riley, Christopher le Brun and Fiona Banner.

  Artists from the Liverpool area, or with connections to Liverpool are also extensively represented in the collection: Gerard Chowne, Nicholas Horsfield, Will Penn, Dorothy Adamson, George Mayer-Marton, Millicent Ayrton, Clement McAleer, Roderick Bisson, Arthur Ballard, Stanley Reed, George Jardine, J. Coburn Witherop, Sam Walsh, Adrian Henri, Peter Corbett and Tom Palin.

  Portraiture is an important element of the collection in recording the eminent figures in the history of the University. The best known group of portraits are those by Augustus John who taught in the University ‘Art Sheds’ between 1901-2. The University also owns portraits by William Strang, Henry Carr, F.T. Copnall, Edward Halliday and Will Penn.

  Watercolours and Drawings

  The core of this collection is a group of 80 watercolours given to the University by Sir Charles Sydney Jones. All the important English watercolourists are represented: Paul Sandby, J.R. Cozens, John ‘Warwick’ Smith, Thomas Varley, Thomas Girtin, J.M.W. Turner, Anthony Vandyke, Copley Fielding, Peter de Wint, David Cox and John Sell Cotman.

  There is scope for developing the collection of late nineteenth century watercolours and drawings. Current holdings centre on four impressive cartoons for stained glass windows in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh by Edward Coley Burne-Jones.

  The twentieth century collection includes some significant works by Arthur Rackham, Herbert MacNair, Robert Anning Bell, John Nash, Michael Ayrton, Anthony Gross, Graham Sutherland, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, Adrian Henri, Deanna Petherbridge, Graham Arnold and Ian McKeever.

  The University also has a small but interesting group of architectural drawings (many related to its School of Architecture, one of the earliest in Britain). This comprises works by Alfred Waterhouse, H.C. Bradshaw, Stanley Adshead, Professor C.H. Reilly, Gordon Stephenson and G.A. Holmes.

  Sculpture

  The collection comprises monumental, architectural, public and small sculptures.

  The most important public sculptures are by George Frampton, Dame Elisabeth Frink, Alfred Gilbert, C.J. Allen, Eric Kennington, Dame Barbara Hepworth, Phillip King, Hubert Dalwood, Mitzi Cunliffe and John McCarthy.

  Elements from a small but significant collection of small free-standing sculpture are displayed in the VG&M on a rolling basis and include works by Herbert Tyson Smith, Jacob Epstein and a second Elisabeth Frink.

  Prints

  This is the largest holding in the University art collections and comprises some 1950 items. Within this total the collection divides equally between modern and pre-twentieth century prints.

  The prints held in the art collections are complemented by a fine collection of rare and printed books held in the special collections department of the Sydney Jones Library.

  The collection of prints up to 1900 contains a wide selection of material. There are early examples of etchings of W. Hollar and Peter Burdett, engravings by G. Vertue, R. Morghen, J. Houbraken, F. Bartolozzi and J. Boydell, rare early woodcuts by John Baptist Jackson, fine mezzotints by David Lucas, W, Dickson and T. Watson and a good selection of etchings by James Hamilton Hay.

  Early chromolithography is exemplified in the high quality Arundel prints after Italian old master frescoes (published by the Arundel Society for Promoting the knowledge of Art 1848-97).

  A handful of outstanding artist printmakers are represented, Piranesi, Alphonse Legros, James McNeil Whistler and Rembrandt.

  The twentieth century collection of prints are largely post-war and includes work by a wide range of distinguished artists: Kenneth Armitage, Gillian Ayres, Peter Blake, Derek Boshier, Patrick Caulfield, Lynn Chadwick, Cecil Collins, Robyn Denny, Elizabeth Frink, Terry Frost, Anthony Gross, Patrick Heron, David Hockney, Howard Hodgkin, Gordon House, John Hoyland, Allen Jones, R.B. Kitaj, Le Corbusier, Marino Marini, Ben Nicholson, Victor Passmore, John Piper, Richard Smith, Graham Sutherland, Jo Tilson, William Turnbull, G.H. Wedgwood. Recent acquisitions include as set of six limited edition prints by Yinka Shonibare and a set of 26 limited edition prints by American LGBTQ+ artist Linda Stein.

  Ceramics

  The ceramics collection consists mainly of the Sir Sydney Jones’ collection of early English porcelain with supporting material from Europe and the Far East. This latter group includes an important and representative selection of eighteenth century Chinese armorial tableware. The development of hard and soft paste porcelain is represented by examples from most of the English manufacturers: Bow, Chelsea, Derby, Worcester, Bristol, New Hall, Caughley, Nantgarw, Plymouth, Pinxton, Coalport, Lowestoft, Davenport, Spode, Swansea and Rockingham.

  Some of the strengths of the collection are: ‘Mercury’ c.1760; a fine selection of Derby biscuit figures c.1795; a range of gilded and enamelled high foot Derby urns and vases illustrating the influence of Sèvres porcelain; hand-painted blue Worcester ware with butterfly and bird designs; and some unusually fine examples of Spode Japan patterns c.1815.

  The collection also contains a large group of early Wedgwood Jasper ware urns and an example of the Portland (or Barberini) vase.

  Glass Collection

  The glass collection consists of a small collection of domestic items from the eighteenth and nineteenth century given to the University by Sir Sydney Jones. This was augmented by the Horsfall bequest of approximately fifty items of mainly nineteenth century cut glass.

  Museum (Heritage) Collections:

  The Museum Collections mostly consist of material which reflects the teaching and research of the University of Liverpool.. This has happened in two ways:

  • Items acquired for teaching, for example skeletal material and models used historically in the teaching of subjects such as Medicine, Physics, Veterinary Science, Dentistry, and comparative anatomy.
  • Items generated by research within the University, for example cathode tubes used by Oliver Lodge in research on X-rays and James Chadwick’s Geiger counter given to him by Geiger

  The Museum Collections are not yet fully digitised, but much progress has been made, and the programme to undertake this work continues.

  In all areas there is an interest in collecting material which not only relates to the history of teaching methods used or research undertaken in the past, but also contemporary items – such as samples of phage used in research into the potential development of new antibiotics. As research continually develops it is anticipated that more contemporary material will be acquired.

  Anaesthesia

  A comprehensive collection of c.800 items of historical equipment, begun by Professor T C Gray in the 1960s. Of particular note is the Minnitt apparatus, which was used to deliver gas and air in childbirth for the first time in 1933.

  Archaeology

  A number of boxes of finds from rescue excavations in England have been deposited with the VG&M that do not fit with the Collections Development Policy of The Garstang Museum. These items were excavated by staff & students as part of emergency field expeditions to civil engineering schemes in green field sites.

  Anatomy

  The collection consists of 98 large-scale anatomical illustrations (drawings and watercolours) made for teaching purposes and an impressive collection of teaching models, some of which are of exceptional quality, such as a series of wax babies in difficult birth presentations. A number of the models pre-date the University – originally part of the teaching collection at the Liverpool Royal Institution, these models were transferred to the University’s Medical Museum when the Institution closed in 1948.

  Biological Sciences

  The majority of the collection is part of the original Herdman Natural History collection which was established as a teaching collection by Professors William Herdman and *** Paterson. Elements include skeletal material, wet specimens, models, casts, fossils and taxidermy. The collection numbers approximately 1000 items.

  Calculators and computing

  The calculators and computing objects originate from a number of scientific departments. They number c.100 items from early to late twentieth century, including a 1962 memory core which has a 16kb capacity, yet is almost the size of a breeze block.

  Chemistry

  123 items, mainly equipment used in teaching and research in the first half of the twentieth century.

  Civic Design

  This collection consists of about 20 models of University buildings

  Dentistry

  This is an internationally important collection of about 10,000 items relating to dental history. The Dental Museum was begun in 1880 as a teaching resource and expanded during the inter-war period. Elements of particular note include a collection of dentist’s chairs, an entire dental surgery c.1920 and an important collection of Waterloo teeth.

  Engineering

  The collection includes a number of objects connected to the research of Professor Hele-Shaw. There is also a collection of small models of different types of engine (some of which are functioning) and some unusual large-scale engines, including a plane rotary engine and the propulsion unit from a guided missile.

  Geography

  This collection consists of a number of maps, some equipment and collections of slides.

  Geology

  This collection comprises many thousands of items much of which is effectively a handling/teaching collection used in the department. However, there is a core of important specimens such as the type specimen of Beasley’s type D2 Rhynchosaurides rectipes.

  Latin American Studies

  This is a small but good quality collection of Pre-Columbian ceramics (c. 20 items). The collection has been used in teaching for a number of years. There are plans to prepare the collection for display in the near future, which would make it more easily accessible for teaching.

  Obstetrics and Gynaecology

  This fully listed collection contains approximately 330 objects and over 50 books including a number of important antiquarian volumes. The important elements are a large collection of forceps – some very early – and the aforementioned wax models of babies used in teaching.

  Physics

  This collection is of importance due to the links to Sir Oliver Lodge, Sir James Chadwick and C. G. Barkla and the pioneering work on atomic research undertaken at the University in the twentieth century. It numbers about 500 items, including a prototype Giegercounter given to Professor Chadwick by Geiger, handwritten notebooks from Los Alamos, Oliver Lodge’s gas lighter (used in his radio experiments) and an extensive collection of experimental and demonstration glass tubes.

  Early X rays

  An important collection of early X-rays dating from 1896 onwards, recording the pioneering work of Charles Thurston Holland, together with research notebooks.

  Scientific and Medical Equipment Collection

  A collection of approximately 700 items which was assembled in the late 1980s following an appeal to departments for material. The items relate to the work of the University departments from the creation of the University in 1881.

  Veterinary Sciences

  The Veterinary collection is not extensive but includes key material, including the skeleton of the racehorse Manifesto (a famous two-time Grand National winner) and a demountable plaster model of a horse by Maison Deyrolle. A collection of c.300 items used for teaching purposes is held in the faculty.

  Medals

  The medal collection largely comprises awards to senior members of University staff which are of historical rather than artistic interest. However, a number of significant local artists were given important commissions which are represented in the collection: C.J. Allen, Herbert Tyson-Smith and Edward Carter Preston.

  Antique Furniture

  The furniture collection has been the subject of a disposal project in recent years, due to the fact that much of the collection was utilitarian or domestic in nature and had in effect been accessioned in error.

  The remaininc collection is smaller but consists of high quality items from named donors such as Sir Carles Sydney Jones and Mrs E Horsfall.The furniture from Mrs Horsfall’s bequest has recently been conserved.Items of particular note are displayed in the VG&M when possible.

  Metalwork

  A collection of fine examples of British silver and silver plate from the early seventeenth century to the present. The majority of items are primarily of historical interest as they are commemorative items associated with senior members of the University but there are also a significant number of fine quality examples of the silversmith’s art. Amongst them are two marrow spoons c.1690, a bleeding bowl of 1694 (the oldest items in the collection), an elegant helmet-shaped creamer of 1781 (London), two high-foot vase-shaped ewers c.1790 (London), a cup and cover by Anthony Nelme 1716, several baluster tankards c.1760, a punch ladle 1746 (London) and a two-foot high candelabra epergne made by Edward Barnard & Sons in 1836 and presented to the University by William Rathbone to celebrate its centenary. The silver collection continues to expand. A more recent addition was a commission for jugs and sauce boats by the distinguished designer, the late Louis Osman.

  Textiles

  The textile collection comprises only 20 items and includes tapestries and wall-hangings and clothing related to the history of the University.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC