Frank Brangwyn's British Empire Panels

HOLIDAY IN WALES AND SEE FRANK BRANGWYN'S BRITISH EMPIRE PANELS
FRANK BRANGWYN BRITISH EMPIRE PANELS "....a composer in colour" The Brangwyn Panels are hung in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea - a twenty minute drive from our self catering holiday cottages. SIR FRANK WILLIAM BRANGWYN RA (1867-1956) PAINTER, MURALIST AND PRINTMAKER WAS BORN AT BRUGES ON MAY 13 1867 OF WELSH (FATHER) / ENGLISH (MOTHER), ROMAN CATHOLIC PARENTAGE. HIS FATHER WAS AN ECCLESTICAL ARCHITECT AND CRAFTSMAN WHO DESIGNED THE CHURCH OF ST. ANDRE, BRUGES AND CHURCH EMBROIDERIES. WHEN FRANK WAS TEN HIS FAMILY RETURNED TO LONDON. HE WAS APPRENTICED TO WILLIAM MORRIS FOR FOUR YEARS AND AFTERWARDS TRAVELLED WIDELY. BRANGWYN BECAME KNOWN FOR HIS ILLUSTRATIONS AND PRINTS - BOTH ETCHING AND LITHOGRAPHS - WHICH POPULARISED HIS WORK AND LATER HE BECAME RENOWNED FOR THE SCALE OF HIS MURAL PAINTINGS WHICH ADDED SIGNIFICANTLY TO HIS PRESTIGE. BRANGWYN WAS COMMISSIONED AS AN OFFICIAL WAR ARTIST DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR. Why not holiday at our self catering cottages in the beautiful Swansea Valley and see Brangwyn's British Empire Panels for yourself? FRANK BRANGWYN'S WORK WAS APPRECIATED MORE ON THE CONTINENT, AMERICA AND JAPAN THAN IN THE UK WHERE THE ARTISTIC ESTABLISHMENT WAS CRITICAL OF HIS OBVIOUS FACILITY AS A DECORATIVE/ROMANTIC ARTIST. HE FIRST CAME TO PROMINENCE THROUGH THE IMMEDIACY AND POWER OF HIS DRAWING AND TECHNICAL SKILLS. BRANGWYN'S REAL TALENTS WERE AS AN ILLUSTRATOR (DON QUIXOTE IN 1895, A SPLICED YARN IN 1899, THE SPIRIT OF AGE IN 1905, THE LAST FLIGHT OF REVENGE IN 1908, RUBAIYAT IN 1909 AND EOTHEN IN 1913). FOR BRANKGWYN, THE EMPIRE PANEL COMMISSION WAS THE CULMINATION OF A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND HE EMBARKED UPON THE TASK WITH ENTHUSIASM. MANY OF THE CARTOONS AND PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS CAN BE VIEWED IN THE PUBLIC CORRIDORS CLOSE BY THE BRANGWYN HALL, IN THE GUILDHALL, SWANSEA. '......escape to the tranquility of the South Wales countryside and enjoy some of the UK's most delightful art galleries, craft centres and museums.'	SWANSEA HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION Luxury Cottages convenient to Brangwyn Hall, Swansea WELSH SELF CATERING HOLIDAY COTTAGES The Story of the Frank Brangwyn British Empire Panels	Wales Tourist Board Accredited Accommodation BRANGWYN REFERENCES BOOKS ARTICLES BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS EXHIBITIONS PLAY BRANGWYN HOLDINGS "The most splendid and distinguished unit of decorative painting executed in Europe since Tintoretto ceased his work in the Doge's Palace at Venice". FRANK RUTTER "Frank Brangwyn has been a prolific producer of pictures, water-colours and etchings in addition to his mural painting. He is limited neither in method nor in subject, but whether the latter be a scene in Italy, an impression of Pittsburg, or a table laden with rich friuts of a sumptuous dessert, the presentation of the theme is invariably decorative and grandiose" VISIT WALES '.....two hours and a million miles away' DURING THE 1950's AND 60's IT BECAME FASHIONABLE TO BE CRITICAL OF BRANGWYN'S WORK: "HE WAS ONE OF THE FINEST DRAUGHTSMEN OF HIS TIME, THOUGH HIS PAINTING TENDED TO BE DECORATIVELY SENTIMENTAL". CURRENTLY THERE IS A RE-APPRAISAL OF BRITISH ARTISTS WHO WERE WORKING IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THIS CENTURY AND BRANGWYN IS NOW GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE EXTRAORDINARY, HE HAS BEEN CALLED A GENIUS, FOR HIS ARTISTRY RANGES FROM ARCHITECHTURE, FURNITURE AND FITTINGS TO BOOK ILLUSTRATION. THE BRANGWYN BRITISH EMPIRE PANELS, HUNG IN BRANGWYN HALL, SWANSEA EXEMPLIFY HIS TALENTS. "In an early twentieth century phase of mural painting, Brangwyn gives in some respects an English equivalent to Diego Rivera and Jose Maria Gert." Material taken from SIR FRANK BRANGWYN R.A. 1867-1956 Studies for the British Empire Panels by Swansea Museums Service, The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and Museum, Swansea City Council.
	Sir Frank William Brangwyn, R.A. (1867-1956) is celebrated as one of Britain's most prolific and versatile artists. His work is internationally acclaimed and the huge British Empire Panels in Swansea are amongst the most important examples of his decorative work on a large scale. The Brangwyn Hall at the Guildhall, Swansea renowned as a major concert hall, conference and reception centre, servicing the Principality and beyond is enhanced by these unique magnificent panels. The story of the Brangwyn Panels and the various fascinating preparatory drawings coming to Swansea is one of truimph over disaster. In 1924 the House of Lords voted to commemorate the First World War by completing the Victorian decorations (commissioned from Daniel Maclise by Prince Albert) in the Royal Gallery, Palace of Westminster, London. Lord Iveagh offered the fee of £20,000 and chose Frank Brangwyn, supported by other lords. Brangwyn had studied with William Morris, served as an official First World War artist, was already recognised world-wide and had been elected a full Royal Academician in 1919. From 1904-1909 he had worked on the Skinner's Company Hall producing panels illustrating their history; and also designing various mural schemes for projects abroad (e.g. San Fransisco, Missouri, Winnipeg). Following the death of his wife in 1924, Brangwyn's fortunes improved when in 1925 a major show of his work was both critically and popularly received in Boston, USA and the Royal Gallery Commission was begun. Brangwyn's intention was to enliven the gloomy Royal Gallery with "decorative painting representing various Dominions and parts of the British Empire". No geological logic was intended; the panels have the spirit of fantasy showing a protected world of beauty and plenty, based artistically on Brangwyn's many travels adn also his studies of animals in London Zoo. Two assistants worked with him and chalk designs were drafted on to squared up canvases. The tonal variations allowed for the imbalance in lighting at the Royal Gallery. In 1927-1928 two of Brangwyn's main supporting peers for the scheme died, and in 1930 at the request of the Royal Fine Art Commission the artist had to show, somewhat reluctantly, the five finished panels in the Royal Gallery itself. Public controversy ensued; the scheme was thought to be too colourful and lively, and was declined. Lord Iveagh's heir honoured the original commission which was completed in 1932; the whole scheme was then shown at Olympia in a special setting at the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition in 1933 - its future uncertain. Both Cardiff and Swansea showed interest; due to Brangwyn's considerable fame and his paternal Welsh connections. The building of the new Guildhall in Swansea, with the offered chance of raising the proposed Assembly Hall ceiling to 44 feet specially for the panels, secured the scheme - the Brangwyn Hall was inaugurated along with the whole building in October 1934 by the then Duke of Kent, and visited in 1937 by Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Brangwyn was so encouraged by Swansea's response that he gifted many related drawings and studies to the Council - a continuing source of interest to this day. Fortunate also as Brangwyn's will decreed that all his papers should be destroyed on his death in 1956 aged 89. A colour illustrated booklet detailing the background to both artist and panels sheme is available from the Brangwyn Hall Administration Office, the Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PE at £2.50 (£3.00 including p&p); cheques to be made payable to 'The City and County of Swansea'. For booking enquiries and visits contact (01792) 635489.
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FRANK BRANGWYN BRITISH EMPIRE PANELS

FRANK BRANGWYN
BRITISH EMPIRE PANELS