80th Anniversary of The Courtauld Institute of Art

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1932-01-01 00:00:00

The Courtauld is born!

Samuel Courtauld forms The Courtauld Institute of Art in 1932, with Sir Robert Witt and Viscount Lee of Fareham. As one of the first art history institutions it paves the way for art history entering the academic world.

1933-02-09 00:00:00

William Constable is chosen as Director

William Constable, who came from the National Gallery, fully shares the founders approach to art history and is Director for four years.

1934-01-01 00:00:00

A Bar at the Folies-Bergere

In 1934 Samuel Courtauld gives Edouard Manet’s last major painting, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, to The Courtauld.

1934-08-09 00:10:54

Warburg Scholars come to the Courtauld

Viscount Lee and Samuel Courtauld arranged for scholars attached to the Warburg Institute in Hamburg to be resettled in London, following the advent of a Nazi government in Germany.

1934-09-14 00:10:54

Roger Fry bequeaths his collection

Artist, designer, critic, and art historian Roger Fry bequeaths his collection to The Courtauld following his death in 1934.

1936-08-13 00:10:54

Thomas Boase becomes Director

William Constable resigns as director over a disagreement about whether the courses should be restricted to postgraduates. He is replaced by Thomas Boase

1939-09-01 00:00:00

WWII & The Courtauld

The Second World War brakes out and drastically reduces The Courtauld Institute of Art’s activities – from 1941 to 1942 its student body is made up of three people.

1947-01-23 00:00:00

The Lee Bequest

'The Morelli-Nerli Chests' are given to The Courtauld as part of the Lee Bequest after Viscount Lee dies in 1947.

1947-07-21 00:00:00

Samuel Courtauld Passes Away

Samuel Courtauld, one of the key founders of The Courtauld, passes away in 1947.

1947-09-06 00:00:00

Anthony Blunt becomes Director

Anthony Blunt is made Director and oversees the development of the Institute during the 1950s and until his retirement in 1974.

1948-01-15 00:00:00

The Courtauld Bequest

'La Loge', by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, is one of the works given in the Courtauld bequest of 1948. It is one of most celebrated masterpieces of The Courtauld collection and one of the most important works of the Impressionist movement.

1950-01-01 00:00:00

The Courtauld in the 1950s

During the 1950s The Courtauld becomes a powerhouse of intellectual activity.

1952-06-13 21:40:48

The Witt Collection

Sir Robert Witt dies, bequeathing his collection of approximately 3,000 Old Master drawings to The Courtauld in addition to his extensive collection of prints.

1954-07-08 10:59:29

The Photographic Survey Begins

The Courtauld begins the process of painstakingly photographing and archiving private collections across the UK.

1956-09-14 00:10:54

Annual Summer School Begins

The Annual Summer Schools begins, organised by Barbara Robertson.

1958-01-10 00:00:00

Collection goes on Display at Woburn Square

A large part of the collection goes on view in the new galleries at the Warburg Institute's building in Woburn Square, initially intended to be shared by the two organisations.

1965-08-12 00:10:54

The History of Dress Department is created

The History of Dress department is created.

1966-01-20 00:00:00

Mark Gambier Parry Bequest

At the opening ceremonies for the galleries in Woburn Square the promised gift of another renowned collection is announced: that formed by the Victorian collector Thomas Gambier Parry (1816-88) which was eventually bequeathed by his grandson Mark Gambier Parry.

1967-10-12 10:53:32

The Spooner Bequest

In 1967 The Courtauld is presented with the superb collection of English watercolours formed by William Wycliffe Spooner (1882-1967) and his wife, Merci.

1970-10-08 00:25:53

Brazilian Baroque Architecture Exhibition

An early Courtauld exhibition of Brazilian Baroque Architecture is displayed at Woburn Square from October to November 1970.

1974-10-11 00:25:53

Canaletto Etchings Exhibition

An early Courtauld exhibition of etchings by Italian painter and print maker Canaletto is displayed at Woburn Square

1976-11-11 10:48:34

Peter Lasko becomes Director

Peter Lasko had the distinction of being both a student of The Institute of Art, and its fourth director. Although these formal connections covered no more than twelve years, The Courtauld was always his alma mater, and in a sense he never left it.

1978-10-13 10:53:32

The Princes Gate Bequest

The 1970s closed with one of the greatest single benefactions ever received by a British gallery. Princes Gate Collections elevated The Courtauld Gallery to an entirely new level of public importance.

1981-01-15 00:00:00

Lease on Portman Square Expires

The lease of Portman Square finally expires after multiple extensions, leaving The Courtauld with no choice but to look for a new location.

1981-09-12 00:00:00

Cranach's Adam and Eve is restored

The intricate conservation treatment is led by Carol Willoughby and an extensive pigment analysis is carried out by Nicholas Eastaugh.

1982-11-04 00:25:53

Lillian Browse Bequest

Cork Street art dealer Lillian Browse presents 32 works of art to The Courtauld in 1982. These includes eminent works of art by Edgar Degas, Paul Rodin and Walter Sickert, reflecting her passion for ballet.

1984-01-12 00:00:00

The Hunter Bequest

Ben Nicholson's 'Painting 1937' was given to the gallery as part of the Hunter Bequest in 1984. When he produced this painting, Nicholson was a member of an artistic community centred in Hampstead, London. This group included the sculptors Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, and, briefly, the Dutch painter Piet Mondrian. It was chiefly Mondrian who inspired Nicholson’s adoption of the abstract geometric manner displayed in this work.

1985-01-17 03:29:15

Michael Kauffman becomes Director

Peter Lasko is replaced by Michael Kauffmann who sees the project of moving to Somerset House through to fulfilment. Work on the building is far enough advanced for The Courtauld Institute of Art to move in for the academic year which began in October 1989.

1985-04-18 00:00:00

Department of Wall Painting Conservation Created

The Department of Wall Paintings Conservation is created and becomes become one of the major centres in the world for education and research in wall painting conservation.

1988-09-13 00:10:54

Conserving the Mogoa Grottoes

In 1988 the Getty Conservation Institute and the Dunhuang Academy begin a major collaborative project to conserve the extraordinary Mogao grottoes in China. Of the four professionally qualified wall painting conservators participating in the conservation of Cave 85, all are Courtauld alumni, each taking the BA or MA in Conservation of Wall Paintings.

1989-11-10 00:25:53

The Courtauld moves to Somerset House

During the 80s a plan to unite The Courtauld Institute of Art, the gallery space, and the collection into one building was begun. A solution was found when the Strand side of Somerset House became available, requiring huge fundraising efforts that continued throughout the 80s.

1991-11-01 00:25:53

The 'East Wing' exhibition is founded

The Courtauld’s new location at Somerset House doesn’t immediately appeal to everyone. To counteract the bare walls of the new seminar rooms student Joshua Compston opens the first 'East Wing' show in November 1991 and exhibits the likes of Gilbert and George, Howard Hodgkin, and Damien Hirst.

1995-09-14 00:10:54

Eric Fernie becomes Director

Eric Fernie becomes Director and is faced with the issue of The Courtauld Institute of Art’s future whether it should merge with one of the larger colleges or become a small, independent college.

2002-09-19 06:12:41

The Courtauld Institute & Independance

The Courtauld Institute becomes an independent college of the University of London in 2002, a sign of recognition for its ongoing achievements.

2003-01-16 00:00:00

Online Image Database Launches

The Courtauld launches its online image database, www.artandarchitecture.org.uk.

2003-09-11 01:38:35

The Research Forum is created

Established in 2003 with the aid of a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Research Forum is located at the heart of The Courtauld.

2003-12-11 03:12:04

James Cuno becomes Director

James Cuno becomes Director in 2003, however his stay is brief as he leaves a year later to become director of the Art Institute of Chicago.

2004-11-12 10:59:29

Deborah Swallow becomes Director

Deborah Swallow becomes the first female director of The Courtauld Institute of Art in 2004, having previously worked at the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

2007-01-18 00:00:00

The Dorothy Scharf Bequest

The bequest from the late Dorothy Scharf of 51 British watercolours, including eight by Turner, is the most significant single addition to The Courtauld’s distinguished collection of works on paper in more than 25 years.

2007-09-21 18:23:01

MA in Curating the Art Museum is Established

The course puts the physical object at the heart of curatorial training and offers a unique balance of seminars, hands-on experience and internship placements.

2008-08-14 00:10:54

The Anthony Kersting Collection

In the year of his death, leading architectural photographer Anthony Kersting gives his entire archive of 120,000 black and white photographs to The Conway Library at The Courtauld.

2010-06-16 18:23:01

Gothic Ivories Project goes Online

The Courtauld launches a new website which makes available hundreds of ivories from international collections, ranging from the USA to Sweden, Hungary and Italy.

2010-10-21 00:10:54

Unique Wall Painting Conserved at Petra by Courtauld Experts

The Courtauld’s Conservation of Wall Painting Department completes the conservation of a rare and exquisite Nabataean wall painting at the World Heritage Site of Petra in Jordan.

2011-12-21 00:10:54

Refurbished Gallery Rooms Revealled

The fine rooms on the first floor of the Gallery are re-opened following refurbishment.

2012-05-17 10:59:29

Creation of new teaching posts in Asian art history.

The establishment of these posts marks a major step in the expansion of The Courtauld’s curriculum beyond the Western tradition as part of its engagement with world art history

2012-08-16 17:38:24

Rubens' early masterpiece Cain Slaying Abel returns to public display following conservation treatment.

The eleven-month conservation procedure is undertaken by Kate Stonor and Clare Richardson in the Department of Conservation and Technology.

2012-11-21 11:59:08

80th Anniversary of The Courtauld

The Courtauld celebrates its 80th Anniversary.

2013-08-15 10:59:29

Courtauld Books Online Launches

The Courtauld Institute of Art launches a series of open access scholarly books - freely available to read online and download without charge.

2013-09-12 17:38:24

MA in Buddhist Art is Established

A unique one-year MA is launched at The Courtauld. It combines teaching in the key tenets of Buddhism, the history of Buddhist art, and the making and conservation of Buddhist art.

80th Anniversary of The Courtauld Institute of Art

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