Jim Ede
Encyclopedia
Harold Stanley Ede also known as 'Jim' Ede, was an English
collector of art and friend to artists.
Ede studied painting at Newlyn Art School between 1912 and 1914 when he was called up in World War I
. On returning from the Western Front
he continued his studies at the Slade School of Art.
In 1921, Ede got a job as assistant curator at the Tate Gallery
in London
whilst continuing to study part time at the Slade. Shortly after he married Helen Schlapp whom he had met in Edinburgh
. Whilst working at the Tate, he tried to promote the work of the contemporary artists of the day, including artists such as Picasso and Mondrian
. However, he was often thwarted by the more conservative attitudes of the gallery directors. During his time at the Tate, Ede formed numerous friendships with avant-garde
artists of the day. In the process, he acquired many works of art that were largely under-appreciated at the time. In particular he secured much of the work of Henri Gaudier-Brzeska
from the estate of Sophie Brzeska
.
In 1936, Ede tired of fighting the establishment at the Tate and left to live in Morocco
, building a house outside Tangiers. Somewhat ahead of his time, he adopted a minimalist
style of interior design advocating plain white-washed walls and the minimum of furniture required to complete a room. For the next twenty years, he led an itinerant life, writing, broadcasting and lecturing in Europe
and America
, whilst keeping the house in Morocco as a base.
Returning to England
in 1956, Ede converted four cottages in Cambridge
as a place to live and display his art collection. It was part of his philosophy that art should be shared in a relaxed environment; to this end he would hold 'open house', giving personal tours of the collection to students from the University of Cambridge
over afternoon tea. Students could also borrow paintings from his collection to hang in their rooms during term-time. In 1966, Ede gave the house and collection to the University, establishing Kettle's Yard
art gallery.
Ede continued to live at Kettle's Yard until 1973, then moving to Edinburgh
where he lived out his retirement.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
collector of art and friend to artists.
Ede studied painting at Newlyn Art School between 1912 and 1914 when he was called up in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. On returning from the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
he continued his studies at the Slade School of Art.
In 1921, Ede got a job as assistant curator at the Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
whilst continuing to study part time at the Slade. Shortly after he married Helen Schlapp whom he had met in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Whilst working at the Tate, he tried to promote the work of the contemporary artists of the day, including artists such as Picasso and Mondrian
Piet Mondrian
Pieter Cornelis "Piet" Mondriaan, after 1906 Mondrian , was a Dutch painter.He was an important contributor to the De Stijl art movement and group, which was founded by Theo van Doesburg. He evolved a non-representational form which he termed Neo-Plasticism...
. However, he was often thwarted by the more conservative attitudes of the gallery directors. During his time at the Tate, Ede formed numerous friendships with avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
artists of the day. In the process, he acquired many works of art that were largely under-appreciated at the time. In particular he secured much of the work of Henri Gaudier-Brzeska
Henri Gaudier-Brzeska
Henri Gaudier-Brzeska was a French sculptor who developed a rough hewn, primitive style of direct carving....
from the estate of Sophie Brzeska
Sophie Brzeska
Sophie Brzeska was a Polish writer and artistic muse most noted for being the companion sculptor/artist Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. Twice Henri's age they met in 1909 at the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, and began an intense symbiotic relationship. Henri annexed her surname although they...
.
In 1936, Ede tired of fighting the establishment at the Tate and left to live in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, building a house outside Tangiers. Somewhat ahead of his time, he adopted a minimalist
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
style of interior design advocating plain white-washed walls and the minimum of furniture required to complete a room. For the next twenty years, he led an itinerant life, writing, broadcasting and lecturing in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, whilst keeping the house in Morocco as a base.
Returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1956, Ede converted four cottages in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
as a place to live and display his art collection. It was part of his philosophy that art should be shared in a relaxed environment; to this end he would hold 'open house', giving personal tours of the collection to students from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
over afternoon tea. Students could also borrow paintings from his collection to hang in their rooms during term-time. In 1966, Ede gave the house and collection to the University, establishing Kettle's Yard
Kettle's Yard
Kettle's Yard is an art gallery and house in Cambridge, England.- History and overview :Kettle's Yard was originally the Cambridge home of Jim Ede and his wife Helen. Moving to Cambridge in 1956, they converted four small cottages into one idiosyncratic house and a place to display Ede's collection...
art gallery.
Ede continued to live at Kettle's Yard until 1973, then moving to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
where he lived out his retirement.
Publications
- Savage Messiah, H.S. Ede, Heinemann (1931) — Biography of the sculptor Henri Gaudier-BrzeskaHenri Gaudier-BrzeskaHenri Gaudier-Brzeska was a French sculptor who developed a rough hewn, primitive style of direct carving....
. Reprinted, Kettle's Yard Gallery (1971), ISBN 0-900406-15-1. - A Way of Life, H.S. Ede, Kettle's Yard Gallery, ISBN 090707457X. Guide to Kettle's Yard and its collection.
- Kettle's Yard and its Artists ,ed Michael Harrison,Cambrdge 2009 ISBN 978-1-904561-33-0