Robert Langton Douglas
Encyclopedia
Robert Langton Douglas known professionally as R. Langton Douglas, was a well-known British art critic, lecturer, and author, and director of the National Gallery of Ireland
.
Douglas was born in Cheshire, England
, and educated at New College
, Oxford
. He was for years a University Extension lecturer, and for a time was in holy orders in the Church of England
. From 1895 to 1900 he resided in Italy
. While a chaplain there, he wrote a monograph on Fra Angelico
in consultation with various scholars, including Bernard Berenson
. He relinquished his church appointment in 1900 to become professor of Modern History at the University of Adelaide
, Australia
, then returned to Italy in 1901 where he wrote A History of Siena.
He lectured on art at the Royal Institution
and the Society of Arts
, was made dean
of the faculty of arts in 1901, and contributed to many magazines and reviews. At age 50, in 1914, Douglas enlisted in the British Army for World War I
, and rose from private to staff captain and a position with the War Office in London. Douglas was awarded for his bravery in World War I.In 1916 Douglas was appointed director of the National Gallery of Ireland
in Dublin, but resigned in 1923 after a disagreement with its trustees. He settled in New York City
in 1940, writing text for the Duveen art galleries.
Known chiefly as an authority on Sienese
art, his most important publications are an edition of Crowe
and Cavalcaselle's
History of Painting in Italy (1903, et. seq.), and:
Douglas was the father of Marshal of the Royal Air Force
William Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside and Professor Terence Wilmot Hutchison
(world renowned expert on the history of economic thought). Douglas's daughter Clare (the half-sister of Marshal Douglas) was the second wife of writer J.D. Salinger.
National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later...
.
Douglas was born in Cheshire, 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...
, and educated at New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He was for years a University Extension lecturer, and for a time was in holy orders in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. From 1895 to 1900 he resided in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. While a chaplain there, he wrote a monograph on Fra Angelico
Fra Angelico
Fra Angelico , born Guido di Pietro, was an Early Italian Renaissance painter described by Vasari in his Lives of the Artists as having "a rare and perfect talent"...
in consultation with various scholars, including Bernard Berenson
Bernard Berenson
Bernard Berenson was an American art historian specializing in the Renaissance. He was a major figure in pioneering art attribution and therefore establishing the market for paintings by the "Old Masters".-Personal life:...
. He relinquished his church appointment in 1900 to become professor of Modern History at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, then returned to Italy in 1901 where he wrote A History of Siena.
He lectured on art at the Royal Institution
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
and the Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
, was made dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the faculty of arts in 1901, and contributed to many magazines and reviews. At age 50, in 1914, Douglas enlisted in the British Army for 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...
, and rose from private to staff captain and a position with the War Office in London. Douglas was awarded for his bravery in World War I.In 1916 Douglas was appointed director of the National Gallery of Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later...
in Dublin, but resigned in 1923 after a disagreement with its trustees. He settled in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1940, writing text for the Duveen art galleries.
Known chiefly as an authority on Sienese
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
art, his most important publications are an edition of Crowe
Joseph Archer Crowe
Sir Joseph Archer Crowe , was an English consular official and art critic, whose volumes of the History of Painting in Italy, co-written with the Italian critic Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle , stand at the beginning of disciplined modern art history writing in English,...
and Cavalcaselle's
Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle
Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle was an Italian writer and art critic.-Biography:Cavalcaselle was born in Legnago, Veneto. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Cavalcaselle participated in the Revolution of 1848 and in the Roman Republic.After the latter's fall, he lived in England for...
History of Painting in Italy (1903, et. seq.), and:
- Fra AngelicoFra AngelicoFra Angelico , born Guido di Pietro, was an Early Italian Renaissance painter described by Vasari in his Lives of the Artists as having "a rare and perfect talent"...
(second edition, 1902) - History of SienaSienaSiena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
(1902) - La Maioliche di Siena (1904)
- Illustrated Catalogue of Pictures of Siena and Objects of Art (Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1904)
Douglas was the father of Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Marshal of the Royal Air Force is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it on their last day of service. Promotions to the rank have ceased...
William Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside and Professor Terence Wilmot Hutchison
Terence Wilmot Hutchison
Terence Wilmot Hutchison FBA was a world famous economist. Born in Bournemouth, England, he attended Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1931 to study the classics but switched to economics. He took his bachelor of arts degree, with first class honours, in 1934...
(world renowned expert on the history of economic thought). Douglas's daughter Clare (the half-sister of Marshal Douglas) was the second wife of writer J.D. Salinger.