Oriel Môn are delighted to have received funding from Art Fund and V&A Purchase Grant Fund to purchase a wonderful portrait of Mrs Stanley by one of Wales’s best loved artist Sir Kyffin Williams.
Mrs Stanley’s portrait was painted in 1953, at a time when Kyffin Williams was establishing himself as a professional painter, having already had successful solo exhibitions and shown his work in several group shows.
She was known to the artist's family, and was 92 when this portrait was made. The event is described, quite amusingly, in 'Across the Straits', Kyffin's autobiography that was published in 1973. He wrote, ‘Everyone who sat for me presented an individual problem. Mrs Stanley of Beaumaris gave me a difficult time’, adding ‘Occasionally she would stop [humming] and fix me with two wet eyes. ‘You know not the day nor the hour’ she announced. And later ‘God will take you in his good time’. This made it hard for me to concentrate, and I felt like pointing out the probability that He would take her first.’
Ian Jones, Collections and Building’s Manager, Oriel Môn, said, “We are very grateful to Art Fund and V&A Purchase Grant Fund for giving us the means to purchase this stunning portrait of Mrs Stanley. To have this portrait as a permanent addition to our collection is a real achievement and one that we are particularly proud of. Everyone will get the opportunity to see Mrs Stanley later on this year in a special exhibition celebrating the 30th anniversary of Oriel Môn.”
As with most of Kyffin’s works in oil, this painting was probably completed in one sitting, and made with a brush rather than the palette knife that he predominantly used during the latter part of his career. The canvas had been reused for the portrait, having a landscape painting of the village of Llan Ffestiniog on its reverse side. Kyffin is known to have stayed at the Abbey Arms hotel in the centre of the village during the late 1940s and early 1950s, using it as a base for exploring and painting the surrounding mountainous landscape.
Oriel Môn is currently closed to the public due to the pandemic. However for further information please contact us by email: oriel@ynysmon.llyw.cymru . There are also collections on our website, www.orielmon.org.uk and through our online shop; www.orielmon.org.shop
When Welsh Government restrictions have been lifted, Oriel Môn will be open Wednesday to Sunday between 10.00am and 4.00pm and admission is free.
Ends 4.3.21
For further information: Nicola Gibson, Visitor Experience Manager
NicolaGibson@ynysmon.llyw.cymru
Notes to editors:
Art Fund
Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. It provides millions of pounds every year to help museums to acquire and share works of art across the UK, further the professional development of their curators, and inspire more people to visit and enjoy their public programmes. In response to Covid-19 Art Fund has made £2 million in adapted funding available to support museums through reopening and beyond, including Respond and Reimagine grants to help meet immediate need and reimagine future ways of working.
Art Fund is independently funded, supported by the 159,000 members who buy the National Art Pass, who enjoy free entry to over 240 museums, galleries and historic places, 50% off major exhibitions, and receive Art Quarterly magazine. Art Fund also supports museums through its annual prize, Art Fund Museum of the Year. In a unique edition of the prize for 2020, Art Fund responded to the unprecedented challenges that all museums are facing by selecting five winners and increasing the prize money to £200,000. The winners are Aberdeen Art Gallery; Gairloch Museum; Science Museum; South London Gallery; and Towner Eastbourne www.artfund.org
V&A Purchase Grant Fund
- The Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund is a government fund that helps regional museums, record offices and specialist libraries in England and Wales to acquire objects relating to the arts, literature and history.
- It was established at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in 1881 and continues to be part of its nationwide work.
- The annual grants budget, currently £724,000, is provided by Arts Council England National Lottery Funding
- Each year, the Purchase Grant Fund considers some 150 applications and awards grants to around 100 organisations, enabling acquisitions of over £3 million to go ahead.
- Visit the website: www.vam.ac.uk/purchasegrantfund