Leeds Art Gallery

History

The original concept of this gallery was initiated by an executive committee formed in 1876 for the purpose, by Leeds Fine Art Society. The original committee included its president, the Marquis of Ripon, Hon. Sec. John Joseph Willson, Rev. John Gott (vicar of Leeds, and son of Benjamin Gott), John Atkinson Grimshaw, and architect William Henry Thorp (1852–1944). The gallery was built between 1886–88 by Thorp, as an extension to the Municipal Buildings to the west (built 1878–84 by George Corson, now housing Leeds Central Library). What is now the Tiled Hall Café was the sculpture gallery, having been modified from the Reading Room of the adjacent public library, to be illuminated by electricity. All other galleries were lit by daylight from rooflights. The new building had a central court of two storeys with a glass roof and a fountain of Burmatofts faience. (A floor was later put in to create additional space.)

In 1912, the Leeds Art Collections Fund (now known as the Leeds Art Fund) was formed to support the gallery's acquisitions. At its centenary exhibition in 2012, it displayed the 430 works it had helped to acquire for the city.

In 1982 it was modified, turning the entrance from the East side to the South, on the Headrow, with an extension for the sculpture collection. The new building was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 26 November 1982.

A £1.5 million renovation was completed in June 2007, including opening up the magnificent Victorian Tiled Hall (used as a café and bookshop) which links the gallery and the library, and the former Queen's Gallery was named after local businessman and patron of the arts, Arnold Ziff. At first floor level there is direct access from the gallery to the Art Library. The gallery includes a ground floor lecture theatre named after Henry Moore which is used for a variety of events.

It closed again in January 2016 for extensive renovation, re-opening 13 October 2017. The renovation uncovered the glass roof in the Central Court Gallery, which had been covered by a false ceiling. An abstract wall painting by Lothar Götz was provided to brighten up the Victorian staircase. File:LCAG Interior 26 June 2018 Queen Anne.jpg|1712 statue of Queen Anne File:Leeds City Art Gallery plaque 26 June 2018.jpg|1982 commemorative plaque File:LCAG Interior 26 June 2018 Ziff Gallery.jpg|Ziff Gallery (formerly the Queen's Room) File:LCAG Interior 26 June 2018 upper gallery 1.jpg|The glass roof uncovered in 2016 File:LCAG Interior 26 June 2018 1.jpg|Main staircase and lecture theatre File:LCAG Interior 26 June 2018 sculpture gallery.jpg|Ground floor sculpture gallery File:LCAG Interior July 2018 Landing 4.jpg|First floor landing and exhibition area

On display

"Ten key works"

The gallery's visitor leaflet suggesting "Ten key works" for a short visit lists the following items (listed here in date order):

• Retribution, Edward Armitage, 1858
• The Age of Bronze, Auguste Rodin, 1877 (cast 1906)
• The Valley of Shadows, Evelyn De Morgan, 1899
• Maternity, Jacob Epstein, 1910
• Praxitella, Wyndham Lewis, 1921
• Reclining Figure, Henry Moore, 1929
• Painting, Francis Bacon, 1950
• Postcard Flag (Union Jack), Tony Cragg, 1981
• Maquette for Brick Man, Antony Gormley, 1986
• The Artist in her Studio, Paula Rego, 1993

Other

Other works on display in the galleries include :

• Paintings
  • The Shadow of Death (1870–73), William Holman Hunt
  • Boar Lane, Leeds (1881), Atkinson Grimshaw
  • Scotland Forever! (1881), Elizabeth Thompson
  • The Bridesmaid (1883–85), James Tissot
  • The Lady of Shalott Looking at Lancelot (c.1894), John William Waterhouse
  • The Tin Mine (1942), Graham Sutherland
• Sculpture
  • Hieroglyph - Barbara Hepworth
  • Mother and Child - Henry Moore

References

1. Dickinson, Colin. (4 October 2014). "Visitors flocking to Leeds Museums and Galleries".
2. . ["Leeds Art Gallery Collections"](https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-art-gallery/).
3. {{NHLE
4. Wrathmell, Susan. (2005). "Leeds". Yale U.P..
5. (6 October 2017). "Mark’s History: Gott’s Cross remembers remarkable Bramley man".
6. (27 October 1888). "The Leeds fine art gallery". Illustrated London News.
7. . (26 March 2012). ["Art of a bargain buy"](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/what-s-on/arts/art-of-a-bargain-buy-1-4380221). *Yorkshire Post*.
8. . ["Architectural Design of the Institute"](https://www.henry-moore.org/visit/henry-moore-institute/about-the-institute/architectural-design-of-the-institute).
9. . ["Art Gallery, Arnold and Marjorie Ziff Gallery"](http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=20071130_165508). *Leeds City Council*.
10. . (13 October 2017). ["Leeds Art Gallery re-opens to the public today after almost two years being shut for essential repairs."](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/leeds-art-gallery-re-opens-to-the-public-today-after-almost-two-years-being-shut-for-essential-repairs-1-8801961). *Yorkshire Evening Post*.
11. "Short of time? Try our half-hour guide to ten key works.". Leeds Art Gallery.