National Museum Wales Purchases Painting by Howard Hodgkin for the Nation

WALES.- Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales has acquired one of Howard Hodgkin’s most spectacular original prints, entitled Venice, Evening, 1995 thanks to funding grants from the Nerys Johnson Contemporary Art Fund and the Derek Williams Trust.

Thanks to the generous support of the Nerys Johnson Contemporary Art Fund and the Derek Williams Trust, who each awarded a grant of £9,000, the 16 part hand painted etching and aquatint will beautifully complement and enhance other Venetian works by artists in the Museum collection including Canaletto, Guardi, Monet, Whistler, Sickert, Brangwyn and Piper.

Before this acquisition, Hodgkin was not represented in Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ collection apart from one painting on long term loan from the Derek Williams Trust, Bedtime, 1991-2001. Venice, Evening will not only complement the painting, Bedtime, but will significantly add to the contemporary collection at the Museum.

Internationally recognized as one of Britain’s most important painters and printmakers and one of the most inventive and original colourists, Howard Hodgkin studied at the Camberwell School of Art between 1949 and 1950, and later at the Bath Academy of Art. In 1984, Hodgkin represented Britain in the Venice Biennale and in 1985 he won the Turner Prize. His work has been the subject of numerous major exhibitions most notably at the Metropolitan Museum, New York in 1995, the Tate Gallery, London, 2006 and recently at Moma, Oxford in 2010. His paintings and prints are held by most major museums.

Beth McIntyre, Curator of Prints and Drawings, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales said: “We are delighted that we’ve acquired this Howard Hodgkin print. As a large print, this work will be a spectacular gallery piece here at National Museum Cardiff. We are deeply grateful to the Nerys Johnson Contemporary Art Fund and the Derek Williams Trust for their support which demonstrates the importance of this work.

“The Derek Williams Trust is also providing significant support to the refurbishment of National Museum Cardiff’s West Wing contemporary art galleries – the final phase of the National Museum of Art in Wales, which will open in July 2011. Within the new West Wing there will be a dedicated gallery space for the Derek Williams Trust collection.”

National Museum Cardiff is one of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ seven national museums. The others are St Fagans: National History Museum, the National Roman Legionary Museum, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, the National Wool Museum, the National Slate Museum and the National Waterfront Museum.

Entry to each Museum is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

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