Thomas Bodkin
Encyclopedia
Professor Thomas Patrick Bodkin (July 21, 1887 – April 24, 1961) was an Irish
lawyer
, art historian, art collector and curator
.
Bodkin was Director of the National Gallery of Ireland
in Dublin from 1927 to 1935 and founding Director of the Barber Institute of Fine Arts
in Birmingham
from 1935 until 1952, where he acquired the nucleus of the collection described by The Observer
as "the last great art collection of the twentieth century".
, a nationalist
journalist
, judge
and Member of Parliament
. Graduating from the Royal University of Ireland
in 1908 he practiced law from 1911 until 1916 while collecting art privately, influenced by his uncle Sir Hugh Lane
. With the death of Lane in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania
in 1915 Bodkin was charged with ensuring that Lane's collection of art was displayed in Dublin - a dispute that would only finally be settled in 1957 and about which Bodkin was to write Hugh Lane and his Pictures in 1932.
Bodkin left the legal profession in 1916 to become a Governor of the National Gallery of Ireland
, being appointed Director in 1927. He also served in 1926 on the committee that commissioned the design of the new coinage of the Republic of Ireland from Percy Metcalfe
.
In 1935 Bodkin left Ireland on being appointed Director of the newly-established Barber Institute of Fine Arts
and Barber Professor of Fine Art at the University of Birmingham
. The funds available to the Barber Institute for the purchase of new works compared favourably even to some national museums and Bodkin was able to make a string of exceptional purchases in the depressed art market around the time of the Second World War. The collection that in 1935 had numbered just seven works, by 1939 held major pieces such as Tintoretto
's Portrait of a Youth (1554), Simone Martini
's St. John the Evangelist (1320), Poussin
's Tancred and Erminia (1634) and Whistler's Symphony in White No. III (1867). Bodkin retired in 1952 but retained control over acquisitions until 1959 - his successor as Director and Professor Ellis Waterhouse
wistfully referred to Bodkin's wayward later purchases as "Acts of Bod".
Bodkin was also an active broadcaster
and author
, publishing personal reminiscences and translations of modern French poetry
as well as works of art history
and criticism. In particular his The Approach to Painting (1927), an introduction for a popular audience, ran through many editions over the succeeding 30 years.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, art historian, art collector and curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
.
Bodkin was 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 from 1927 to 1935 and founding Director of the Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Barber Institute of Fine Arts
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is an art gallery and concert hall in Birmingham, England. It is situated in purpose-built premises on the campus of the University of Birmingham....
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
from 1935 until 1952, where he acquired the nucleus of the collection described by The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
as "the last great art collection of the twentieth century".
Biography
Bodkin was born in Dublin, the eldest son of Matthias McDonnell BodkinMatthias McDonnell Bodkin
Matthias McDonnell Bodkin was an Irish nationalist politician and MP. in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Anti-Parnellite representative for North Roscommon, 1892–95, a noted author, journalist and newspaper editor, and barrister, King’s Counsel and...
, a nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. Graduating from the Royal University of Ireland
Royal University of Ireland
The Royal University of Ireland was founded in accordance with the University Education Act 1879 as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the University of London. A Royal Charter was issued on April 27, 1880 and examinations were opened to candidates irrespective of...
in 1908 he practiced law from 1911 until 1916 while collecting art privately, influenced by his uncle Sir Hugh Lane
Hugh Lane
Sir Hugh Percy Lane is best known for establishing Dublin's Municipal Gallery of Modern Art and for his remarkable contribution to the visual arts in Ireland...
. With the death of Lane in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
in 1915 Bodkin was charged with ensuring that Lane's collection of art was displayed in Dublin - a dispute that would only finally be settled in 1957 and about which Bodkin was to write Hugh Lane and his Pictures in 1932.
Bodkin left the legal profession in 1916 to become a Governor 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...
, being appointed Director in 1927. He also served in 1926 on the committee that commissioned the design of the new coinage of the Republic of Ireland from Percy Metcalfe
Percy Metcalfe
Percy Metcalfe, CVO, RDI , was an English artist sculptor and designer.He studied art in Leeds, and in 1914 attended the Royal College of Art London....
.
In 1935 Bodkin left Ireland on being appointed Director of the newly-established Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Barber Institute of Fine Arts
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is an art gallery and concert hall in Birmingham, England. It is situated in purpose-built premises on the campus of the University of Birmingham....
and Barber Professor of Fine Art at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
. The funds available to the Barber Institute for the purchase of new works compared favourably even to some national museums and Bodkin was able to make a string of exceptional purchases in the depressed art market around the time of the Second World War. The collection that in 1935 had numbered just seven works, by 1939 held major pieces such as Tintoretto
Tintoretto
Tintoretto , real name Jacopo Comin, was a Venetian painter and a notable exponent of the Renaissance school. For his phenomenal energy in painting he was termed Il Furioso...
's Portrait of a Youth (1554), Simone Martini
Simone Martini
Simone Martini was an Italian painter born in Siena.He was a major figure in the development of early Italian painting and greatly influenced the development of the International Gothic style....
's St. John the Evangelist (1320), Poussin
Nicolas Poussin
Nicolas Poussin was a French painter in the classical style. His work predominantly features clarity, logic, and order, and favors line over color. His work serves as an alternative to the dominant Baroque style of the 17th century...
's Tancred and Erminia (1634) and Whistler's Symphony in White No. III (1867). Bodkin retired in 1952 but retained control over acquisitions until 1959 - his successor as Director and Professor Ellis Waterhouse
Ellis Waterhouse
Sir Ellis Kirkham Waterhouse was an English art historian specialized in Roman baroque and English painting...
wistfully referred to Bodkin's wayward later purchases as "Acts of Bod".
Bodkin was also an active broadcaster
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, publishing personal reminiscences and translations of modern French poetry
French poetry
French poetry is a category of French literature. It may include Francophone poetry composed outside France and poetry written in other languages of France.-French prosody and poetics:...
as well as works of art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
and criticism. In particular his The Approach to Painting (1927), an introduction for a popular audience, ran through many editions over the succeeding 30 years.