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1960

With Kenneth Rowntree suceeding Gowing as Professor and following Pasmore’s departure in 1961, this decade saw the increasing influence of Richard Hamilton in teaching, more emphasis on British 20th century acquisitions and younger contemporary artists’ exhibitions.

While Evetts, McCheyne, Holland and Hodgson remained on the staff, others such as Geoffrey Dudley, Eric Dobson, Derwent Wise and later Ian Stephenson took prominent roles.

1960

Exhibitions

  • French Black and White Prints of the Twentieth Century

    1 - 23 March 1960

  • Summer Exhibition by Students of the Fine Art Department

    25 June - 9 July 1960
1960

Staff / Students

1960 student Summer Exhibition Poster
1960 student Summer Exhibition Poster

1960, Student Summer Exhibition, poster

The poster for the 1960 Student Summer Exhibition is one of the most minimal in its arrangement of just a few lines around the bare essential text.

1960-summer-exhibition catalogue
1960-summer-exhibition catalogue

1960, Summer Exhibition, catalogue

The 1960 Summer Exhibition catalogue returned to having a student designed cover, like 1958 this looks like an example of a ‘basic course’ exercise.

In 1960 the external examiners were Claude Rogers and Willi Soukop.

1960-student-summer-show
1960-student-summer-show

1960, Student Summer Exhibition, press review

Bernard Staniland’s positive review from The Journal.

1960-student-exhbition
1960-student-exhbition

1960, Student Summer Exhibition, photograph

Installation views of the 1960 student exhibition in the Hatton Gallery. Like for much of the 1950s and 60s, the bay window at the end of the front gallery (to the left of the skylight in this picture) was blocked off with a false wall to increase the amount of hanging space.

1960 Pasmore teaching
1960 Pasmore teaching

1960, Pasmore teaching, photograph

These images of Pasmore teaching in Newcastle demonstrate the importance that was placed on the sharing of the outcomes of undertaking specific exercises. Works were pinned up or displayed together on benches, and in the ensuing ‘crit’ tutors and students would discuss the various results.

(Photographs courtesy of the National Art Education Archive, Yorkshire Sculpture Park)

Scott Dobson’s review from the Evening Chronicle of The Developing Process
Scott Dobson’s review from the Evening Chronicle of The Developing Process

1960, Student Summer Exhibition, press review

Scott Dobson’s review was very positive, identifying an apparent coming of age of the new teaching methods employed by Pasmore and Hamilton. Dobson believed the exhibition to be ‘the finest I have seen – and the true vindication of all that the Basic Course set out to do.’

1960

Acquisitions

Alan Davie (1920-2014) - 'Yellow Pool Pull' 1959.
Alan Davie (1920-2014) - 'Yellow Pool Pull' 1959.

Yellow Pool Pull, 1959

Alan Davie

Alan Davie (1920-2014) - 'Yellow Pool Pull' 1959.

NEWHG : 2011.2 Oil on paper purchased from Gimpel Fils, 1960.

Gimpel Fils acquiring an Alan Davie
Gimpel Fils acquiring an Alan Davie

Label from ‘Yellow Pool Pull’, 1959

Alan Davie

It was unusual for such a ‘new’ (this painting label confirms it was just a few months old) work as this Alan Davie to be acquired for the Collection, in this case direct from the dealer, Gimpel Fils.

Antonio Amorosi (1660-1738) - 'Peasant Family'.
Antonio Amorosi (1660-1738) - 'Peasant Family'.

Peasant Family, 1700

Antonio Amorosi

Antonio Amorosi (1660-1738) - 'Peasant Family', c.1700-1730.

NEWHG : OP.0069. Oil painting purchased from Christie's, 1960.

Ralph Holland's catalogue summary
Ralph Holland's catalogue summary

Catalogue sheet for ‘Peasant Family’, 1960

Ralph Holland

The Amorosi was one of the first works Rowntree acquired with the funds Gowing had secured from the Gulbenkian Fund. Ralph Holland produced this catalogue summary sheet describing the work and its attribution.

Rowntree writing to the Barber Institute’s Professor Ellis Waterhouse
Rowntree writing to the Barber Institute’s Professor Ellis Waterhouse

Letter to Professor Ellis Waterhouse, 1960

Kenneth Rowntree

On acquisition Rowntree wrote to the Barber Institute’s Professor Ellis Waterhouse, former Director of the National Galleries of Scotland and an expert in Italian Baroque painting, asking his opinion on the Amorosi.