Edmund Capon
Encyclopedia
Edmund George Capon AM
, OBE
, (born 1940) is an art scholar specialising in Chinese art
. He has been director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales
since 1978. He was also the Chairman of Football
club, Sydney FC
from 2006 to 2007.
degree (MPhil) in Chinese art and archaeology (including language) from London University's School of Oriental and African Studies
, and also studied 20th-century painting at the Courtauld Institute of Art
, London University. From 1973-1978 he held the position of assistant keeper, Far Eastern Section at the Victoria and Albert Museum
, having started there in 1966 in the Textile Department.
, on the recommendation of the Premier of New South Wales, Neville Wran
.
During his tenure as Director, Capon became recognised as a world expert in his particular field and has published several books and catalogues including Princes of jade (1974); Art and archaeology in China (1977); Qin Shihuang: terracotta warriors and horses (1982); and Tang China: vision and splendour of a golden age (1989), as well as many articles for Australian and international newspapers and professional art journals. Under his Directorship, the gallery focused more on Asian arts in its acquisitions, including the opening of a new Asian wing in March 2003. In September 2008 the gallery announced that it was making its biggest-ever acquisition, Paul Cézanne
's landscape "Bords De La Marne", for $16.2 million to mark Capon’s 30th anniversary as Director.
On 10 June 1994 Capon was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "in recognition of service to the arts, particularly as Director of the Art Gallery of NSW". In 2000 he was awarded a Doctor of Letters
(honoris causa) from the University of New South Wales
and a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
from the French government. On 1 January 2001 he was presented with the Centenary Medal
"for service to Australian society and the arts". Capon was also appointed as a "Cavaliere" of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
. In the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours
, Capon was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the United Kingdom government "for services to the promotion of British art in Australia". He is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre, a member of the Council of Australian Art Museum Directors (CAAMD) and an adjunct Professor of the University of New South Wales in Chinese studies.
Capon chooses the winner of the Art Gallery Society of NSW prize in the annual Sculpture by the Sea
awards. This prize is donated by the Art Gallery and is worth $5000.
In August 2011, Capon announced that he would be retiring as Director at the end of 2011, with a Picasso exhibition in October being one of the last major events of his tenure at the AGNSW.
, when it was established in 2004. In September 2006 Capon replaced Walter Bugno as Chairman of Sydney football Club, a position he held until August 2007, when he resigned owing to increasing responsibilities in his role as Director of the Art Gallery of NSW.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, (born 1940) is an art scholar specialising in Chinese art
Chinese art
Chinese art is visual art that, whether ancient or modern, originated in or is practiced in China or by Chinese artists or performers. Early so-called "stone age art" dates back to 10,000 BC, mostly consisting of simple pottery and sculptures. This early period was followed by a series of art...
. He has been director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
since 1978. He was also the Chairman of Football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club, Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
from 2006 to 2007.
Early years
Capon, born in London, United Kingdom in 1940, obtained a Master of PhilosophyMaster of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
degree (MPhil) in Chinese art and archaeology (including language) from London University's School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
, and also studied 20th-century painting at the Courtauld Institute of Art
Courtauld Institute of Art
The Courtauld Institute of Art is a self-governing college of the University of London specialising in the study of the history of art. The Courtauld is one of the premier centres for the teaching of art history in the world; it was the only History of Art department in the UK to be awarded a top...
, London University. From 1973-1978 he held the position of assistant keeper, Far Eastern Section at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
, having started there in 1966 in the Textile Department.
Director of AGNSW
Capon left London in 1978 to take up an appointment as Director and Chief Curator of the Art Gallery of New South WalesArt Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
, on the recommendation of the Premier of New South Wales, Neville Wran
Neville Wran
Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1986...
.
During his tenure as Director, Capon became recognised as a world expert in his particular field and has published several books and catalogues including Princes of jade (1974); Art and archaeology in China (1977); Qin Shihuang: terracotta warriors and horses (1982); and Tang China: vision and splendour of a golden age (1989), as well as many articles for Australian and international newspapers and professional art journals. Under his Directorship, the gallery focused more on Asian arts in its acquisitions, including the opening of a new Asian wing in March 2003. In September 2008 the gallery announced that it was making its biggest-ever acquisition, Paul Cézanne
Paul Cézanne
Paul Cézanne was a French artist and Post-Impressionist painter whose work laid the foundations of the transition from the 19th century conception of artistic endeavour to a new and radically different world of art in the 20th century. Cézanne can be said to form the bridge between late 19th...
's landscape "Bords De La Marne", for $16.2 million to mark Capon’s 30th anniversary as Director.
On 10 June 1994 Capon was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "in recognition of service to the arts, particularly as Director of the Art Gallery of NSW". In 2000 he was awarded a Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
(honoris causa) from the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
from the French government. On 1 January 2001 he was presented with the Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
"for service to Australian society and the arts". Capon was also appointed as a "Cavaliere" of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi in 1951...
. In the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
, Capon was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the United Kingdom government "for services to the promotion of British art in Australia". He is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre, a member of the Council of Australian Art Museum Directors (CAAMD) and an adjunct Professor of the University of New South Wales in Chinese studies.
Capon chooses the winner of the Art Gallery Society of NSW prize in the annual Sculpture by the Sea
Sculpture by the Sea
Sculpture by the Sea is a major annual outdoor sculpture exhibition that is open to the public for no cost, featuring sculptures made by Australian and international artists....
awards. This prize is donated by the Art Gallery and is worth $5000.
In August 2011, Capon announced that he would be retiring as Director at the end of 2011, with a Picasso exhibition in October being one of the last major events of his tenure at the AGNSW.
Sydney FC
A longtime football fan, Capon is a supporter of Chelsea Football Club. In addition, Capon was a founding board Director of Sydney FCSydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
, when it was established in 2004. In September 2006 Capon replaced Walter Bugno as Chairman of Sydney football Club, a position he held until August 2007, when he resigned owing to increasing responsibilities in his role as Director of the Art Gallery of NSW.