Wilfred Cass
Encyclopedia
Wilfred Cass CBE
FRSA (born 1924) co-founded the Cass Sculpture Foundation
.
and comes from the famous Cassirer
family. His great uncle, Paul Cassirer
, was an important dealer for the impressionists in Europe
. His grandfather was Richard Cassirer
, the famous German brain surgeon and his other great uncles included a publisher, industrialist and the philosopher, Ernst Cassirer
.
After the war, Wilfred worked as junior research engineer for Telephone Rentals in Knightsbridge, London (1946-7) before embarking on a HND in Communication Technology at the Regent Street Polytechnic
in London
between 1947-51.
In 1979, Wilfred and his son, Mark, set up Image Bank UK - part of The Image Bank and this company was successfully sold to Getty Images
in 2001.
In 1987 Wilfred became Chairman and Chief Executive of Moss Bros Plc where he reorganised the whole of the troubled group including moving and selling its head office, starting up a new range of Suit Shops and buying Cecil Gee Plc. He remained at the company until 1991.
Upon retiring from Moss Bros in 1992, Wilfred moved to West Sussex from London where he co-founded the registered charity, The Cass Sculpture Foundation
(previously known as Sculpture at Goodwood) in 1992. Over the next year, they visited some thirty sculpture parks around the world before deciding upon the style, aim and design of their own estate. Long-term friends of Henry Moore
and Elisabeth Frink
, Wilfred and Jeannette sold their own personal collection of Moores
, Frinks and Ayrtons
, which they had bought directly from these artists, to fund the creation of their park.
Based in Goodwood, West Sussex, the charitable foundation's aim and consistent focus is to promote and advance British sculpture to a global audience and through a vigorous programme of commissioning, funding and marketing, the Foundation has enabled the fabrication of 150 major new works by leading British artists. In 1996, the charity won the National Art Collections Fund
prize for "Promoting Enjoyment of the Visual Arts".
Cass was created a Commander of the British Empire
(CBE) on 17 June 2006.
In April 2008 Cass was awarded an honorary degree
from the Open University
as Doctor of the University.
Aged 86, Wilfred lives in the grounds of the Cass Sculpture Foundation
's sculpture park in Goodwood, near Chichester, West Sussex, with his wife Jeannette.
. In 2008 Cass sat for a portrait sculpture in terracotta by Jon Edgar
which is in the collection of the sitter.
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...
FRSA (born 1924) co-founded the Cass Sculpture Foundation
Cass Sculpture Foundation
The Cass Sculpture Foundation is a charity and outdoor sculpture park based in Goodwood in West Sussex, England.- Founding and funding :Established by Wilfred Cass and Jeannette Cass in 1992, the Foundation's key objective is to enhance the general public's enjoyment and appreciation of the...
.
Biography
Wilfred was born in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and comes from the famous Cassirer
Cassirer
Notable people whose surname is or was Cassirer include:* Richard Cassirer , German neurologist* Paul Cassirer , German art dealer and editor* Bruno Cassirer , German publisher and gallery owner in Berlin...
family. His great uncle, Paul Cassirer
Paul Cassirer
Paul Cassirer was a German art dealer and editor who played a significant role in the promotion of the work of artists of the Berlin Secession and of French Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, in particular that of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne.- Starting out :Paul Cassirer started out as...
, was an important dealer for the impressionists in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. His grandfather was Richard Cassirer
Richard Cassirer
Richard Cassirer was a German neurologist who was born in Breslau. After receiving his medical doctorate in 1891 he became assistant at the psychiatric clinic in Breslau under Karl Wernicke . In 1893 he went to Vienna and continued his studies under Richard von Krafft-Ebing and Heinrich Obersteiner...
, the famous German brain surgeon and his other great uncles included a publisher, industrialist and the philosopher, Ernst Cassirer
Ernst Cassirer
Ernst Cassirer was a German philosopher. He was one of the major figures in the development of philosophical idealism in the first half of the 20th century...
.
After the war, Wilfred worked as junior research engineer for Telephone Rentals in Knightsbridge, London (1946-7) before embarking on a HND in Communication Technology at the Regent Street Polytechnic
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
between 1947-51.
In 1979, Wilfred and his son, Mark, set up Image Bank UK - part of The Image Bank and this company was successfully sold to Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images, Inc. is a stock photo agency, based in Seattle, Washington, USA. It is a supplier of stock images for business and consumers with an archive of 80 million still images and illustrations and more than 50,000 hours of stock film footage...
in 2001.
In 1987 Wilfred became Chairman and Chief Executive of Moss Bros Plc where he reorganised the whole of the troubled group including moving and selling its head office, starting up a new range of Suit Shops and buying Cecil Gee Plc. He remained at the company until 1991.
Upon retiring from Moss Bros in 1992, Wilfred moved to West Sussex from London where he co-founded the registered charity, The Cass Sculpture Foundation
Cass Sculpture Foundation
The Cass Sculpture Foundation is a charity and outdoor sculpture park based in Goodwood in West Sussex, England.- Founding and funding :Established by Wilfred Cass and Jeannette Cass in 1992, the Foundation's key objective is to enhance the general public's enjoyment and appreciation of the...
(previously known as Sculpture at Goodwood) in 1992. Over the next year, they visited some thirty sculpture parks around the world before deciding upon the style, aim and design of their own estate. Long-term friends of Henry Moore
Henry Moore
Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
and Elisabeth Frink
Elisabeth Frink
Dame Elisabeth Jean Frink, DBE, CH, RA was an English sculptor and printmaker...
, Wilfred and Jeannette sold their own personal collection of Moores
Henry Moore
Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
, Frinks and Ayrtons
Michael Ayrton
Michael Ayrton was an English artist and writer, known as a painter, printmaker and sculptor, and also as a critic, broadcaster and novelist...
, which they had bought directly from these artists, to fund the creation of their park.
Based in Goodwood, West Sussex, the charitable foundation's aim and consistent focus is to promote and advance British sculpture to a global audience and through a vigorous programme of commissioning, funding and marketing, the Foundation has enabled the fabrication of 150 major new works by leading British artists. In 1996, the charity won the National Art Collections Fund
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...
prize for "Promoting Enjoyment of the Visual Arts".
Cass was created a Commander of the British Empire
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...
(CBE) on 17 June 2006.
In April 2008 Cass was awarded an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
as Doctor of the University.
Aged 86, Wilfred lives in the grounds of the Cass Sculpture Foundation
Cass Sculpture Foundation
The Cass Sculpture Foundation is a charity and outdoor sculpture park based in Goodwood in West Sussex, England.- Founding and funding :Established by Wilfred Cass and Jeannette Cass in 1992, the Foundation's key objective is to enhance the general public's enjoyment and appreciation of the...
's sculpture park in Goodwood, near Chichester, West Sussex, with his wife Jeannette.
Portraits of Wilfred Cass
The National Portrait Gallery collection includes a portrait of Wilfred and Jeannette Cass by Anne-Katrin PurkissAnne-Katrin Purkiss
Anne-Katrin Purkiss is a photographer, born in Chemnitz, Germany in 1959 and moving to Britain in 1984 after graduating from University of Leipzig in 1983....
. In 2008 Cass sat for a portrait sculpture in terracotta by Jon Edgar
Jon Edgar
Jon Edgar is a British artist born in Rustington, West Sussex in 1968, the grandson of British cartoonist Brian White. He direct-carves in wood and stone using methods of improvisation, and works in clay.-Biography:...
which is in the collection of the sitter.
Related articles
See also
- Wilfred Cass' Full Biography at Sculpture.org.uk
- Cass Sculpture Foundation official site