Housed in a 1930s architectural gem, Southampton City Art Gallery has a permanent collection of over 3,800 works of art which spans six centuries. It includes paintings by Old Masters, French Impressionists, 19th and 20th century British artists, as well as contemporary British art. The Collection is ‘designated’ as being of national pre-eminence.
 

Highlights of the permanent collection include a 14th-century altarpiece by Allegretto Nuzi; the Perseus series by Burne-Jones; paintings by the Camden Town Group; a sculpture by Richard Deacon and Tony Cragg and photographs by Richard Long.
 
The Gallery offers a wide-ranging programme of historic, modern and contemporary exhibitions, showing new art within its historical context. The Gallery is one of Southampton’s most popular attractions, captivating thousands of visitors every month. A programme of educational activities provides opportunities for greater access, understanding and enjoyment of art, for people of all ages.
 

Robert Chipperfield and his Bequest

 
Robert Chipperfield (1817-1911) was born in London and moved to Southampton aged 26, to live and build his chemist’s business. He had an active role in public services as a Borough Councillor and even served as a magistrate well into his nineties. A wealthy man when he died, he was determined that his money would benefit his adopted town, as evidenced in his will:
 
    ‘..his fervent desire was and his Executors’ chief aim shall be the furtherance and encouragement of Art in the town of his adoption…. to build an art gallery which shall be free to the public, so soon as funds permit, and also establish a Southampton School of Art which shall be worthy of the name.'
 

Since 1930 the bequest has enabled the purchase of 350 paintings with the collection comprising of old masters, 19C paintings, watercolours and drawings and a growing number of modern paintings in oils.
 

Robert Chipperfield:  The Life

 
‘I think my life’s career has not been less than extra-ordinary and even marvellous.’ Robert Chipperfield, 1906
 
When Robert Chipperfield wrote the above at the age of 88 he could look back on a long life of commercial success, domestic happiness and public service.
 
Chipperfield was born in Bloomsbury on the 25 November 1817 and left London aged 26, to set up business as a chemist in Shirley. He built his business and raised his family in Southampton, retiring in 1879, to live at Redcliffe House in Upper Moira Place, which he filled with his extensive art collection. A catalogue of his paintings, drawn up in 1885, lists 24 works in the dining room alone.
 
He was heavily involved in Borough Council affairs, serving as Councillor for St Mary’s ward from 1854 to 1876 and again from 1880 to 1886, He was appointed to the bench in 1888 and served as a magistrate well into his nineties.
 
When Chipperfield died on 3rd August 1911, aged 93, he was a wealthy man. A keen business sense, coupled with shrewd investments in shares and property, had built him a fortune which amounted to £79,276.2s.3d (over £4.5 million today). He was determined that his money would benefit his adopted town.
 
The private charity extended to Southampton City Art Gallery has always been and continues to be considerable. This has resulted in an unusual degree of independence for the museum.
 

The Bequest

 
Southampton Councillor and JP, Robert Chipperfield, laid the foundations for the Art Gallery in 1911. His will stated that:
 
    ‘His fervent desire was and his Executors’ chief aim shall be the furtherance and encouragement of Art in the town of his adoption…. to build an art gallery which shall be free to the public, so soon as funds permit, and also establish a Southampton School of Art which shall be worthy of the name.’
 
As important, he also established a trust fund for the purchase of works of art which continues in operation today. A lover of music, he wrote in his will that Southampton seemed to be well served for music venues but lacked provision for the visual arts.
 
Charitable status for the bequest was obtained in 1916 although, delayed by the First World War, the scheme was not established until 1930.
 
One of Chipperfield’s conditions of great significance and foresight was that pictures could only be bought after consultation with the Director of the National Gallery. Before a professional Curator was appointed in time for the new Gallery’s opening in 1939, Directors of the National Gallery took an active role in purchasing pictures to add to the collection.
 
However, it was Lord Clark (then Mr Kenneth Clark) who effectively took Southampton on in 1934 and advised on the future policy as to the character and main features of the Chipperfield collection: Identified as a small collection of Old Master paintings; a representative collection of 19th century paintings; a collection of water colours and drawings; a growing collection of modern paintings in oils.
 
Chipperfield’s stipulation was indeed to have far-reaching and almost entirely beneficial effects. Through access to the finest independent advice in the country it enabled the City Council to establish within a short period of time, an outstanding collection of pre-eminent, national significance and international reputation.
 

The Legacy – the Collection

 
Exactly 350 works have been acquired by Southampton City Art Gallery with funds from of the Robert Chipperfield Bequest from 1930 to date. This initial bequest laid the path for continued generosity from others including three further major bequests from Frederik William Smith, Arthur Tilden Jeffress and David Brown.
 
The combination of these remarkable gifts from a few outstanding individuals, alongside dedicated directors and curators has allowed for the consolidation of one of the most significant art collections in the United Kingdom.
 
Since 1975 the gallery has particularly concentrated on developing the collection of modern paintings in oils and has expanded further to acquire works in all media by significant artists early in their careers. This foresight has led to the collection holding works by many artists who have since won the Turner Prize.
 
These include Howard Hodgkin (1985), Gilbert & George (1986), Richard Deacon (1987), Tony Cragg (1988), Richard Long (1989), Rachel Whiteread (1993), Antony Gormley (1994), Douglas Gordon (1996), Gillian Wearing (1997), Chris Ofili (1990), Martin Creed (2001), Jeremy Deller (2004) Mark Wallinger (2007) and two of 2011’s nominees, George Shaw and Hilary Lloyd.
 
These important contemporary works were acquired in recent years, however key acquisitions have been made from day one including the Perseus Series by Edward Coley Burne-Jones (acquired in 1934), Avenue of Chesnut Trees at La Celle St Cloud by Alfred Sisley (acquired in 1936) and Portrait of the Artist’s Sister in the Garb of a Nun by Sofonisba Anguisciola (acquired in 1936).
 
Many periods of art history are represented well in the collection including Renaissance, Pre-Raphaelite, Victorian, French Impressionism, 17th century Dutch, 18th and 19th century painting and 20th century British art including Camden Town, Systems Group, Surrealists, St Ives and modern and contemporary works.
 
It was also the first regional gallery to collect video and has a fine collection of films including Jeremy Deller, Paul Morrison and Graham Gussin. The other perhaps more unusual group of work which is collected is Wall drawings, including Daniel Buren’s Mammoth Within the Arcades.
 
In 1998 the Government ‘designated‘ the permanent collection as having pre-eminent national significance and it is considered to be one of the best collections of modern British art outside of London.
 
One hundred years on the city of Southampton is indebted to Robert Chipperfield for starting something very special, a gift to be extremely proud of.
 
City Art Gallery
Information from Southampton City Council
Current Exhibitions
 
Photo Credits: Image, Jim Champion