Impact Report 2012 Introduction 2012 has been a year of quite considerable The pace of this programme of activity and achievement for The Hunterian in terms of its academic development is relentless but hugely rewarding. and public engagement. Amongst our triumphs we Perhaps most significantly, our University has should mention the renewal and expanded hang recognised The Hunterian as being not only core of the Hunterian Art Gallery and the opening of our business in respect of its contribution to the University’s special exhibition Rembrandt and the Passion, both lead objectives for excellence in research, an to widespread critical acclaim; the publication of the excellent student experience and for helping to extend Antonine Wall Hunterian Treasures volume and of our institution’s global reach and reputation, but it Director’s Choice: The Hunterian; the strengthening of also points to the role of The Hunterian in our collections through a series of major new strengthening the University of Glasgow’s ability to acquisitions; the development of our international transform Scotland through its research, teaching, partnerships through collections exchange and joint outreach and cultural activities in the publication research activity; the launch of a new Hunterian brand University of Glasgow: Enriching Scotland. identity and significantly enhanced investment in Hunterian street presence; and the further expansion I would argue that the progress we have made in of our highly popular student engagement developing our strategy as a leading UK academic programme including the showcasing of the work of museum service, in the new campus-wide partnerships our first cohort of post-graduate Hunterian we have created, in our improved student offer and Associates, to name but a few. Personal highlights in the work rate we have achieved over the past year for me during the year include visits to Morocco has resulted in a repositioning of The Hunterian’s role and to Yale University, New Haven, to discuss future and the cementing of a clearer identity as a museum international inter-university museum collaboration. that is dedicated to innovation, experiment and to the Meanwhile, we have been working hard behind the quality of the visitor experience. This turnaround is scenes with our partners in Glasgow Life to develop down to everyone at The Hunterian and to those who our exciting plans for the creation of a Hunterian serve on its Strategic Development and Academic Collections Study Centre at Kelvin Hall. Advisory Boards, to their professionalism, commitment and ambition. I truly appreciate the hard work of colleagues, feel proud of what we have achieved and am excited about future prospects. Professor David Gaimster Director The Hunterian Collection at the University of Glasgow is internationally recognised as one of Scotland’s most important cultural assets. The collection is used for research and teaching across all disciplines. Its recent exhibitions have been outstanding successes and have attracted world-wide interest. Sir Kenneth Calman, Chancellor, University of Glasgow Research Excellence The Hunterian is embedded within one of the world’s the Entombment Sketch alongside a number of key leading research intensive universities and is a cultural international loans, including masterpieces from New asset with national and international reach. In 2012 York, Munich and Amsterdam. Breaking new ground we developed a new academic strategy outlining how in scholarly research, the exhibition presented the The Hunterian will make a tangible contribution to the results of recent scientific analysis of Rembrandt’s University of Glasgow’s mission to provide an painting and re-positioned the purpose and status of intellectually stimulating learning environment. Drawing Rembrandt’s oil sketches. on our encyclopaedic collections, The Hunterian will support and engage with the University’s ambitions The exhibition was accompanied by a fully illustrated for interdisciplinary approaches to research, teaching publication, Rembrandt and the Passion, by exhibition and knowledge exchange. Public engagement, as a curator Peter Black and Dr Erma Hermens (Technical key output for successful research projects, is a Art History, University of Glasgow). The supporting central theme within the strategy and remains at the events programme included a symposium organised heart of The Hunterian’s mission. Our special in collaboration with the Centre for Open Studies and exhibitions and loans programme stimulate a wider a public lecture by renowned international Rembrandt understanding of the outcomes of academic research expert Gary Schwartz. on a local, national and global scale. Over an eleven week period Rembrandt and the Rembrandt and the Passion Passion attracted 8,432 visitors. It met with wide In 2012 The Hunterian staged one of the most public and critical acclaim and set a benchmark for significant international exhibitions in its 200 year future Hunterian special exhibitions. history. The result of a partnership between The Hunterian and the University’s Institute of Art Hagar and the Angel History, Rembrandt and the Passion offered visitors In addition to Rembrandt and the Passion, The Hunterian new insight to one of The Hunterian’s most important presented the latest of our ‘In-focus’ exhibitions which paintings, Rembrandt’s Sketch for the Entombment. showcase University of Glasgow research. This show The painting was part of William Hunter’s bequest in centred on the recent acquisition of Hagar and the Angel 1783 and as such was the first Rembrandt painting by John Runciman as part of the Acceptance in Lieu to go on public show in Great Britain. Rembrandt and scheme, through which works of art are allocated to the Passion provided a unique opportunity to view eligible museums and galleries in lieu of inheritance This impeccably researched show is the result of formidable collaborative scholarship and insight…see it or miss one of the most significant shows in recent years Giles Sutherland, Review of Rembrandt and the Passion, The Times, 29/11/12 tax. The Hunterian celebrated this very important Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and addition to its collection with an exhibition dedicated scheduled to complete in 2014. Over 300 designs are to John and Alexander Runciman, two of the most now recorded, supported by 1100 images, illustrated talented artists of the Scottish Enlightenment. This catalogue entries for 1000 drawings, and almost 200 exhibition continues to August 2013. biographies. The results of this major research project will form the basis of a special exhibition taking place International Art Medal Federation Congress at The Hunterian in the summer of 2014. The International Art Medal Federation, FIDEM, held www.mackintosh-architecture.gla.ac.uk its 75th Anniversary Congress at The Hunterian in July 2012. FIDEM operates in over 40 countries and brings Virtual Microscope Project together public organisations and individual artists The Hunterian is one of the largest providers of material involved with medallic art. This is the first time its to the Virtual Microscope for Earth Sciences Project bi-annual congress has been held in Scotland and it at the Open University. Funded by JISC, the project attracted 140 mainly overseas delegates. In aims to make a step change in the teaching of Earth celebration, a specially commissioned congress Sciences by broadening access to rock collections medal was created by Scotland’s leading silversmith that are currently held in museums, universities and Malcolm Appleby. An accompanying exhibition, other institutions around the world. It allows users to Modern Medals showcased some 1000 contemporary examine and explore minerals and microscopic medals from 446 artists working in 29 countries and features of rocks, helping them to develop was accompanied by a lavish illustrated catalogue. classification and identification skills without the need Modern Medals remained open to the public after the for high-cost microscopes and thin section facilities. Congress ended and was the first major exhibition of Around 60 samples from our collection feature on the medallic art in Scotland. During the Congress, The online resource www.virtualmicroscope.org Hunterian was delighted to be the only venue in Scotland to display two gold medals for the London The Collections pages of our website hold more 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. detailed information about current research projects at The Hunterian. Mackintosh Architecture Excellent progress continues with the Mackintosh Architecture research project, funded by the Arts and Research Excellence World Class Collection Strengthening our collections were awarded a DLitt by the University at the time of With support from The Art Fund, the National Fund for the bicentenary of The Hunterian in 2007. Chalk Cliff Acquisitions, the Alexander and Margaret Johnstone Study launched the new contemporary art space in Endowment Fund, and Donald Magner, The Hunterian the re-presented Hunterian Art Gallery. acquired two striking pencil and ink drawings by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 2012. The drawings The Hunterian was also fortunate this year to be are Mackintosh’s last known perspectives and record allocated, as part of the UK Government’s Acceptance Auchinibert, a large, detached house just outside in Lieu scheme, a red chalk drawing Study for a Figure Killearn, Stirlingshire, built for Francis J. Shand, of Bacchus Driving a Chariot mid 1630s. The vigorous manager of the Nobel Explosives