Christiana Herringham
Encyclopedia
Christiana Jane Herringham (Lady Herringham) (1852–1929) was a British artist, copyist and art patron. She is noted for her part in establishing the National Art Collections Fund
in 1903 to help preserve Britain's artistic heritage.
She was the daughter of Thomas Wilde Powell, a wealthy patron of the Arts and Crafts Movement
. In 1880 she married the physician Wilmot Herringham
, (later Sir Wilmot Herringham) with whom she had two sons. She was committed to women's suffrage
from 1889 onwards.
A talented artist and copyist of Old Masters, she dedicated herself to the revival of tempera
painting, translating Cennino Cennini's 15th century treatise Il libro dell' arte o trattato della pittura in 1899 and founding the Society of Painters in Tempera
in 1901.
She provided the money that launched the National Art Collections Fund in 1903 and served as the only woman on the NACF's first executive committee. She later assisted in founding the India Society, which encouraged respect and appreciation for Indian artistic traditions.
As part of her work for the India Society, she travelled to India in 1906 and 1911 and made copies
of the Buddhist cave paintings at Ajanta near Hyderbad, which were deteriorating badly. An exhibition of the copies opened at the Chrystal Palace
in June 1911. Herringham, however, had begun to suffer from delusions of pursuit and persecution and was admitted to an asylum. She spent the rest of her life in mental institutions.
Her biographer Mary Lago suggests Christiana Herringham may have been the inspiration for Mrs Moore in E.M. Forster's novel A Passage to India
.
National Art Collections Fund
The Art Fund is an independent membership-based British charity, which raises funds to aid the acquisition of artworks for the nation. It gives grants and acts as a channel for many gifts and bequests, as well as lobbying on behalf of museums and galleries and their users...
in 1903 to help preserve Britain's artistic heritage.
She was the daughter of Thomas Wilde Powell, a wealthy patron of the Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
. In 1880 she married the physician Wilmot Herringham
Wilmot Herringham
Sir Wilmot Parker Herringham KCMG CB was a British medical doctor, academic and author. He was one of the first doctors to investigate the effect and treatment of poison gas in World War I.-Life:...
, (later Sir Wilmot Herringham) with whom she had two sons. She was committed to women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
from 1889 onwards.
A talented artist and copyist of Old Masters, she dedicated herself to the revival of tempera
Tempera
Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent fast-drying painting medium consisting of colored pigment mixed with a water-soluble binder medium . Tempera also refers to the paintings done in this medium. Tempera paintings are very long lasting, and examples from the 1st centuries AD still exist...
painting, translating Cennino Cennini's 15th century treatise Il libro dell' arte o trattato della pittura in 1899 and founding the Society of Painters in Tempera
Society of Painters in Tempera
The Society of Painters in Tempera was founded in 1901 by Christiana Herringham and a group of British painters who were interested in reviving the art of tempera painting. Lady Herringham was an expert copyist of the Italian Old Masters and had translated Il Libro dell' Arte o Trattato della...
in 1901.
She provided the money that launched the National Art Collections Fund in 1903 and served as the only woman on the NACF's first executive committee. She later assisted in founding the India Society, which encouraged respect and appreciation for Indian artistic traditions.
As part of her work for the India Society, she travelled to India in 1906 and 1911 and made copies
of the Buddhist cave paintings at Ajanta near Hyderbad, which were deteriorating badly. An exhibition of the copies opened at the Chrystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
in June 1911. Herringham, however, had begun to suffer from delusions of pursuit and persecution and was admitted to an asylum. She spent the rest of her life in mental institutions.
Her biographer Mary Lago suggests Christiana Herringham may have been the inspiration for Mrs Moore in E.M. Forster's novel A Passage to India
A Passage to India
A Passage to India is a novel by E. M. Forster set against the backdrop of the British Raj and the Indian independence movement in the 1920s. It was selected as one of the 100 great works of English literature by the Modern Library and won the 1924 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction. Time...
.
External Links
- Mary Lago Collection at the University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
Libraries