Decision details

Firstsite have made a loan request for items from the Ipswich Borough Council collections for an exhibition to be held in Colchester entitled ‘Cedric Morris and Benton End’, which celebrates The East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing, established by artists Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines in 1939. Made in collaboration with the Colchester Art Society, of which Morris was a founder member, the exhibition will present Morris as artist-gardener and explore his atelier-style approach to art education. The selection of artworks by Morris requested from the Ipswich Borough Council collection tell the early story of the School.

Alongside works by Morris and his partner Arthur Lett-Haines, the exhibition will feature the work of those who drew inspiration from them when studying at Benton End, including Lucian Freud, Glyn Morgan, Bernard Reynolds, Joan Warburton, Richard Chopping, Denis Wirth-Miller, and Maggi Hambling whose work will feature prominently. The exhibition will also bring a long overdue spotlight to artists who have been under-recognised in the story of Benton End; Lucy Harwood being of particular interest.

All the works requested which are currently in store are listed below:-

1. Glyn Morgan, ‘Cedric Morris in his garden’, 1957 (IPSMG:R.1992-59)

2. Maggi Hambling, ‘Bernard Reynolds’, 1963 (IPSMG:R.2011-24)

3. Maggi Hambling, ‘Dream Landscape’, 1983 (IPSMG:R.2011-20)

4. Lucy Harwood, ‘Furrowed Field’, c. 1940 - c. 1972 (IPSMG:R.1987-1.1)

5. Lucy Harwood, ‘Glyn Morgan’, undated (IPSMG:R.1988-2)

6. Lucy Harwood, ‘Landscape with Gulls’ undated (IPSMG:R.1987-1.2)

7. Lucy Harwood, ‘Still Life with Fish’, c. 1940 - c.1972 (IPSMG:R.1987-6)

8. Cedric Morris, ‘The River Stour in Flood’, 1930 (IPSMG:R.1987-5)

9. Cedric Morris, ‘Pound Farm, Suffolk’, 1933 (IPSMG:R.2010-17.2)

10. Cedric Morris, ‘Gutted School, Dedham’, 1936 (IPSMG:R.2010.17.3)

11. Cedric Morris, ‘Benton End, Suffolk’, 1947 (IPSMG:R.2010-17.5)

12. Cedric Morris, ‘Portrait of Denise Broadley’, 1934 (IPSMG:R.2010-17.1)

13. Bernard Reynolds, ‘Cedric Morris’, 1973 (IPSMG:R.1986-11)

14. Joan Warburton, ‘Benton End’, 1960 (IPSMG:R.1996-39.2)

15. Denis Wirth-Miller, ‘Road in a landscape’, 1960 (IPSMG:R.1996-39.4)

16. Joan Warburton, ‘Burned School’, 1939 (IPSMG:R.1996-39.1)

17. Valerie Thornton, four sketchbook drawings (IPSMG:R.2002-2.12, R.2002-2.24 and R.2002-2.30)

18. David Carr, ‘Before the Fire’ (IPSMG:R.2009.73.1)

19. David Carr, ‘After the Fire’ (IPSMG:R.2009.73.2)

The decision made is to agree the loan request of the 19 works listed. This loan provides an opportunity to continue to build on the excellent and long-standing relationship with Firstsite, one of five organisations recently shortlisted for the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year prize 2021.