Dr Claire Barlow, Professor Martin Barlow and Dr Mike Rands
We are very grateful to the Darwin family for their recent generous donation of a painting by artist Gwen Raverat. Gwen, the grand-daughter of Sir Charles Darwin, was born at Newnham Grange, now a central part of Darwin College, and described her childhood there in her 1950s memoir Period Piece. Her woodcuts line the stairway to the Master’s office, while we are lucky enough to have several of her paintings in the Fellows’ Study.
The painting was presented to the Master, Dr Mike Rands, by Dr Claire Barlow and Professor Martin Barlow, themselves great-great-grandchildren of Sir Charles.
“This painting of the view near Harlton presents a wonderful addition to the College’s collection of Gwen’s work,” said Darwin Fellow in the History and Philosophy of Science, Dr Edwin Rose.
“It was painted during her time living at the old Rectory in Harlton between 1929 and 1946. This, combined with the other examples of Gwen’s work held by Darwin College that include the recent acquisition of The Black Piano/Viaduct in Vence in 2023 and several scenes of the immediate vicinity of Newnham Grange allows us to tell the story of another chapter of Gwen’s life through her artworks, between her time living in France and her move to the Old Granary in 1946. In due course the College intends for this picture to be displayed alongside Gwen’s other works in the Fellows’ study in Newnham Grange, Gwen’s childhood family home.”
More of Gwen Raverat’s works and other items in the College collection can be viewed on Art UK.
