13 November 2012

University benefactors celebrated in exhibition

image is 'Lieutenant-Colonel S J L Hardie' by Sir Herbert James Gunn, c.1950.

A new exhibition at the University of Dundee celebrates the benefactors whose generosity significantly contributed to the institution's development.

The exhibition, entitled 'Benefiting from the Facts', features more than 25 paintings, photographs and other items related to some of the many benefactors who aided higher education and research in Dundee.

Being shown at the Tower Foyer Galley from now until January, it recognises contributions to the former Dundee Royal Infirmary, and institutions which are now part of the University, including Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) and Dundee Dental Hospital & School

The exhibition tells various fascinating stories of generosity. Miss Margaret Harris (1815-1894) left a bequest of £25,000 for educational purposes, which was shared by the High School of Dundee and University College, Dundee, the precursor to the University.

This donation founded the Harris Chair of Physics in 1895 and the Harris Trust continues to support the University, helping to develop the Chaplaincy Centre and funding the Margaret Harris Lecture on Religion, which brought the Dalai Lama to Dundee earlier this year. The University's Harris Building is also named after her. A bust of Margaret Harris by John Hutchison is being shown in the gallery.

Not all donations were financial. Dr James Nicoll (1872-1958) was a former student who gave a large collection of artworks and books on art to the University in 1951. The paintings formed the basis for the University's now extensive collections of art and examples from Nicoll's bequest by famous 19th century painters John Constable and Sir David Wilkie feature as part of the exhibition.

Curator Claire Wallace, from the University's Museum Services, said, "This is a wonderful way for the University to mark the donation of the many benefactors who have contributed to its development as well as showing some magnificent and important artworks.

"Two of the exhibited oil paintings on display - portraits of Lieutenant-Colonel S J L Hardie and James Soutar of Thornbank - have recently been conserved thanks to grant funding from Museums Galleries Scotland, and are being displayed for the first time in several years. Colonel Hardie gave the land on which Belmont Hall was constructed and Soutar was an important donor to Dundee Royal Infirmary."

The exhibition will run until Saturday,12th January 2013. Opening hours are 9.30am-8.30pm on weekdays and 9.30am-4.30pm on Saturdays. The Gallery will be closed during the Christmas holiday from 23rd December to 3rd January.

Claire will be leading an informal tour of the exhibition, and revealing more about the various benefactors who feature, at 12.15pm on Tuesday, 20th November.

More information is available from museum@dundee.ac.uk or 01382 384310.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277