Help bring rare Winifred portrait home to Yorkshire

The captivating art work depicts Winifred on one her family holiday to Barnsley’s Cannon Hall in 1881 and is by her celebrated cousin, famed Victorian female artist, Evelyn De Morgan.

De Morgan’s mother was born at Cannon Hall which is today the home of the De Morgan Museum, to continue this local historic legacy.

The picture hasn’t been on public display for 143-years but has been acquired for free public display at the venue and the De Morgan Museum has launched an urgent appeal to keep her there.

DONATE HERE: The De Morgan Museum needs to raise £10,000 to prepare this portrait for display. To make a donation – CLICK HERE.

WATCH: Discover more about this portrait in an online lecture with Victorian Art Historian, Jan Marsh, who discusses the importance of this acquisition and the excitement of bringing the painting back to Cannon Hall – CLICK HERE.

De Morgan rose to fame despite the challenges of social convention preventing women from becoming artists and was one of the most prominent female artists of the Victorian period. The portrait is a unique example of her seldom-seen portraiture.

At the beginning of her career she made no fewer than three intimate portraits of close family members.

With an arresting forward gaze and obvious ease with the artist, these intriguing artworks are unlike De Morgan’s historical and mythological subjects for which she is best known, says Sarah Hardy, Director of the De Morgan Museum.

She said: “Displaying the painting here would at once enhance the understanding of De Morgan’s full artistic range and add an important piece of local history.

“The portrait will be displayed alongside scrapbooks of photographs and drawings which depict Winifred playing in the grounds of Cannon Hall, an activity still enjoyed by thousands of families today.

“With your help, the De Morgan Museum now has the exciting opportunity to ensure this portrait will remain on public display in perpetuity from August 2023, for all to enjoy.

“It has been purchased with support by the Art Fund and the ACE/V&A Purchase Grant Fund who have recognised the importance of this painting for the De Morgan Museum at Cannon Hall, its audiences and researchers.

“With just two weeks to reach our target, the De Morgan Foundation needs your help urgently. Please give as generously as you can: all donations, no matter how much, bring us one step closer to displaying this masterpiece for everyone to enjoy.

Links:

Donate: Make a donation at gofund.me/ceeb271c

Web site: demorgan.org.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/demorganfoundation

X (Twitter): @DeMorganF

Instagram: @demorganfoundation