Issued: 19 April 2018

New Henry Lamb exhibition – a treat for lovers of 20th century art at The Salisbury Museum

The Salisbury Museum is thrilled to announce a rare treat for art lovers in the form of a major new exhibition opening on 26 May 2018. ‘Henry Lamb: Out of the Shadows’ will run until 30 September and is the first major reappraisal of Lamb’s work since an exhibition at the Manchester City Art Galleries in1984.

This major new exhibition is co-curated by Harry Moore-Gwyn, an independent curator, dealer and writer on modern British art, in partnership with Poole Museums. Poole Museum will mount a similar Henry Lamb exhibition in 2019 and is curating an exhibition about in 2018, which will come to Salisbury in 2019.

One of the leading British figurative painters of the first part of the twentieth century and founder member of the , Henry Lamb was also a close associate of Augustus John. His friends included and members of the Bloomsbury Group.

Lamb’s unusual portraits played an important role in his career as a painter, but his townscapes and landscapes as well as his early subject pictures of Ireland and Brittany and his work in both World Wars reveal him to be a painter of considerable range and talent. He became a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery (1942) and the Gallery (1944). He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1940 and a full Academician in 1949.

Many of the works on show will come from the Artist’s Estate, but the museum will also be borrowing key works from museums and galleries, as well as private lenders from across the country. This represents a unique opportunity to experience the breadth of this multi-talented artist’s work and see works that usually adorn the walls of private homes. The exhibition is supported by RA250 with Art Fund, a national celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Royal Academy.

Adrian Green, Director of Salisbury Museum said ‘Lamb is an artist who is ripe for a reappraisal. Despite his prolific and skilled output he has not been the subject of a major exhibition since the 1980s. Using the family archive as the basis for the exhibition has offered exciting opportunities to link original sketches and drawings with finished paintings and exhibit previously unseen material. The result is a wide ranging exhibition that covers the full remit of Lamb’s career.’

Henry Lamb was an enigmatic figure – he featured in the biographies, memoirs and letters of his contemporaries like Lytton Strachey and , but has somehow managed to remain in the shadows. This is probably due to his independence of spirit and reluctance to be labelled. However, this exhibition will endeavour to redress the balance and spotlight a supremely talented man.

Image:

Henry Lamb by Henry Lamb © National Portrait Gallery, London

Additional information:

The exhibition represents a partnership between The Salisbury Museum and Poole Museum under the umbrella of the Wessex Museums Partnership, supported by Arts Council England, and is co-curated by Harry Moore-Gwyn, an independent curator, dealer and writer on modern British art, whose previous shows have included Kenneth Rowntree (Pallant House Gallery, Chichester and Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Walden), Laurie Lee (Royal Geographical Society) and Walter Bonner Gash (Alfred East Gallery, Kettering).

This exhibition has been generously supported by RA250 with Art Fund

Museums and galleries across the UK will take part in a nationwide programme of talks, events and exhibitions to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the in 2018. The Royal Academy is the world’s foremost artist and architect-led institution. Since its foundation in 1768, the membership of Royal Academicians has included over 650 of Britain’s most eminent artists and architects. With support from Art Fund, this far-reaching programme will celebrate Royal Academicians, past and present, foregrounding the impact they have had throughout the UK.

A full programme can be found by visiting roy.ac/RA250UK Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. Independently funded by those who buy a National Art Pass and the generous support of many trusts, foundations, individuals and companies, Art Fund offers grants towards acquisitions, supports curatorial practice and facilitates the sharing of collections with wider audiences by supporting tours and exhibitions. Art Fund is proud to support RA250, helping to make the Royal Academy’s 250th anniversary a truly national occasion.

Exhibitions:

The Salisbury Museum Henry Lamb: Out of the Shadows 26 May – 30 September 2018 Main Exhibition Galleries

No booking required Normal admission charges apply £8 Adults, £4 Children

Poole Museum Augustus John: Drawn from Life 26 May – 30 September 2018 http://www.poolemuseum.co.uk/whats-on/future-exhibitions/

Catalogues:

A catalogue to accompany each of these exhibitions will be published by Paul Holberton publishing.

Catalogue Press Contact [email protected]

The Salisbury Museum opening hours: Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm Sundays (from 27 May – 30 September) 12 midday – 5pm

The Salisbury Museum The Kings House 65 The Close Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 2EN UK www.salisburymuseum.org.uk

Facebook The Salisbury Museum Twitter @salisburymuseum #friendsandrivals Instagram salisburymuseum

Press Contact: Louise Tunnard [email protected] 01722 820541