Y Chwiorydd Davies

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-Barry Docks. A century ago, when -the South Wales coal industry...	0:00:21	0:00:25
-..was at its height, -more coal was exported from here...	0:00:25	0:00:29
-..than any other port in the world.	0:00:29	0:00:31
-It symbolised the confidence -and pioneering spirit...	0:00:31	0:00:34
-..of the modern industrial age.	0:00:35	0:00:37
-The city of Paris -was a centre of another kind.	0:00:48	0:00:51
-Barry Docks exported coal...	0:00:51	0:00:53
-..but Paris imported artists.	0:00:54	0:00:56
-Artists from all over -Europe flocked here.	0:00:57	0:00:59
-If you were young - and ambitious -to make a mark on the art world...	0:00:59	0:01:03
-..Paris, the birthplace of -modern art, was the place to be.	0:01:04	0:01:09
-Here, in the 1860s, artists like -Manet, Cezanne, Monet and Renoir...	0:01:18	0:01:23
-..came together, and transformed -the art of their time.	0:01:23	0:01:27
-Almost fifty years later, -two sisters from Wales came here.	0:01:28	0:01:32
-And with money inherited -from south Wales's industry...	0:01:32	0:01:36
-..they began collecting -the revolutionary art...	0:01:36	0:01:39
-..of the Impressionists.	0:01:39	0:01:41
-The Davies Sisters: -Collecting for Wales	0:01:42	0:01:45
-The National Museum, Cardiff...	0:01:51	0:01:53
-..is the home of the Davies -sisters collection today.	0:01:53	0:01:57
-And what a collection! -It's amongst the best in the world.	0:01:57	0:02:01
-Sculpture by Rodin and Degas...	0:02:01	0:02:03
-..and paintings by Manet, Monet, -Renoir, Cezanne and Van Gogh.	0:02:04	0:02:08
-But why did two shy, -religious, unmarried sisters...	0:02:09	0:02:13
-..create one of the most progressive -art collections of their day?	0:02:13	0:02:18
-In the Davies galleries -at the National Museum...	0:02:32	0:02:36
-..we see works by the giants -of 19th century art.	0:02:36	0:02:40
-It would be impossible to create -a similar collection today.	0:02:40	0:02:44
-Gwendoline and Margaret Davies...	0:02:52	0:02:54
-..were amongst the wealthiest -young women in Britain...	0:02:54	0:02:57
-..heirs to the fortune -of their grandfather...	0:02:58	0:03:01
-..industrialist David Davies.	0:03:01	0:03:03
-David Davies grew up -in Llandinam, Montgomeryshire.	0:03:09	0:03:12
-He came from an ordinary background, -a farmer's son...	0:03:13	0:03:16
-..and the eldest of nine children.	0:03:17	0:03:19
-He began his career as a woodcutter -and rose to be a civil engineer.	0:03:19	0:03:23
-He built railways and bridges, -including this one, in mid Wales.	0:03:24	0:03:29
-He showed a talent that was -a foretaste of what was to come.	0:03:29	0:03:34
-David Davies lived -in mid Wales all his life.	0:03:36	0:03:40
-After making his fortune -in the coal industry...	0:03:40	0:03:43
-..he built this house - -Broneirion in Llandinam.	0:03:43	0:03:47
-He successfully ran -the Ocean Collieries mines...	0:03:48	0:03:51
-..he built railways -in south Wales's valleys...	0:03:52	0:03:55
-..and played a leading role -in the development of Barry Docks.	0:03:55	0:03:59
-Despite his wealth, David Davies -remained true to his background.	0:04:01	0:04:06
-He was a fervent chapel-goer, -a teetotaller and a philanthropist.	0:04:06	0:04:10
-He gave generous donations -to a number of charities...	0:04:10	0:04:14
-..and national institutions...	0:04:14	0:04:16
-..such as the University -College of Wales, Aberystwyth.	0:04:16	0:04:19
-His granddaughters inherited -these humanitarian traits.	0:04:20	0:04:24
-Margaret and Gwendoline Davies -were born in Plas Dinam...	0:04:25	0:04:28
-..in 1882 and 1884.	0:04:29	0:04:31
-They had a privileged upbringing...	0:04:31	0:04:33
-..but in one way, -were rather unfortunate.	0:04:33	0:04:37
-When Gwendoline was six and Margaret -four, their mother died.	0:04:37	0:04:41
-Ten years later, -their father died too.	0:04:41	0:04:44
-By then, he had married -their mother's sister.	0:04:45	0:04:48
-Henceforth, she, and the family's -governess, Jane Blaker...	0:04:48	0:04:52
-..cared for the sisters.	0:04:52	0:04:54
-Jane Blaker played a vital role -in the girls' education too...	0:04:54	0:04:58
-..greatly emphasizing the arts.	0:04:59	0:05:01
-Her brother, Hugh Blaker, -was an artist and curator.	0:05:01	0:05:04
-He had an important role, helping -the sisters with their collection.	0:05:05	0:05:09
-In the past, it was believed that -he was responsible for everything.	0:05:09	0:05:13
-But new information has shown -that this was not totally true.	0:05:13	0:05:17
-While researching for a new -exhibition about the sisters...	0:05:22	0:05:25
-..the National Museum were able to -study letters and travel journals...	0:05:26	0:05:30
-..in the Davies family archives.	0:05:30	0:05:32
-They shed new light -on two very private sisters.	0:05:33	0:05:36
-It was a very exciting experience -to be given the opportunity...	0:05:37	0:05:41
-..to look through the original -archives, and to realise...	0:05:41	0:05:44
-..just how much material -there was that had been preserved...	0:05:45	0:05:49
-..about the early lives -of the Davies sisters.	0:05:49	0:05:52
-There was a real sense of opening -the journals and discovering...	0:05:52	0:05:55
-..completely new things.	0:05:56	0:05:57
-We discovered art history -notes and comments...	0:05:58	0:06:00
-..that we had no idea that they -had made about significant artists.	0:06:00	0:06:04
-So it was really exciting -from that point of view...	0:06:04	0:06:08
-..and I think that we have genuinely -painted quite a new picture...	0:06:08	0:06:12
-..of the sisters.	0:06:12	0:06:14
-At the age of 24, Margaret followed -an Art History course in Dresden.	0:06:15	0:06:18
-In her notes on Rodin, -she wrote that 'The Kiss'...	0:06:19	0:06:22
-..was his most beautiful work.	0:06:23	0:06:25
-Four years later, -her sister, Gwendoline...	0:06:25	0:06:28
-..had bought a bronze -cast of the work.	0:06:28	0:06:31
-It's one of the most sensuous works -of art of the 19th century...	0:06:31	0:06:35
-..and a very unexpected choice -for a young, unmarried woman...	0:06:35	0:06:39
-..from a religious background.	0:06:39	0:06:41
-Gwendoline and Margaret...	0:06:43	0:06:44
-..kept everything - diaries, -postcards from their travels.	0:06:44	0:06:47
-Seeing these original papers in the -archives is an amazing experience.	0:06:48	0:06:51
-It helps us get to know -the girls as real people.	0:06:52	0:06:56
-They were enthusiastic travellers -and very fond of Italy...	0:07:02	0:07:06
-..and often visited -several countries in a year.	0:07:06	0:07:10
-They travelled on trains and also -in the family car, a grand Daimler.	0:07:10	0:07:15
-It once took them from Llandinam on -a tour of Germany and Switzerland.	0:07:15	0:07:19
-After seeing some of Europe's -most famous artworks...	0:07:19	0:07:23
-..they went further too - -to Syria and Iraq.	0:07:23	0:07:27
-The adventurous spirit -they showed as travellers...	0:07:27	0:07:31
-..was also exhibited -in their art collecting.	0:07:31	0:07:35
-How extensive was -the sisters' knowledge of art?	0:07:36	0:07:39
-We've been really surprised to find -that actually both sisters...	0:07:40	0:07:44
-..were far better educated, -as far as art history's concerned...	0:07:44	0:07:48
-..as had previously been realised.	0:07:48	0:07:50
-So we've discovered, for instance...	0:07:51	0:07:53
-..Margaret attended -an art history course in Germany...	0:07:53	0:07:57
-..that Gwendoline produced -a very extensive table...	0:07:57	0:08:01
-..of Italian artists, -very carefully researched.	0:08:01	0:08:03
-We do know that their governess, -Jane Blaker, from an early age...	0:08:04	0:08:08
-..took them to the Royal Academy, -for instance, in London...	0:08:08	0:08:11
-..and regularly to the Louvre where -they both had favourite paintings...	0:08:12	0:08:16
-..by the time they were -in their early twenties.	0:08:16	0:08:19
-Paris was quite -a favourite of the sisters.	0:08:47	0:08:50
-As well as the Louvre, it was also -the home of the Impressionists...	0:08:51	0:08:55
-..who came to prominence in 1874, -with a new kind of exhibition...	0:08:55	0:08:59
-..that caused a stir -in the Paris art world.	0:09:00	0:09:02
-At the time, there was only -one exhibition in Paris...	0:09:03	0:09:06
-..where artists could -show their work - the Salon.	0:09:06	0:09:09
-If your work was refused -by the Salon, you had no hope...	0:09:10	0:09:13
-..of succeeding as an artist.	0:09:13	0:09:15
-The Salon was a huge exhibition, -sponsored by the government.	0:09:19	0:09:23
-Usually, large, meticulously- -painted works were favoured...	0:09:23	0:09:27
-..of traditional subjects, -from history or mythology.	0:09:27	0:09:31
-But the Impressionists -wanted to change this...	0:09:31	0:09:35
-..and paint their own age and world.	0:09:35	0:09:37
-At the time, Paris was a new city.	0:09:45	0:09:47
-The boulevards and streets -we associate with Paris today...	0:09:47	0:09:51
-..had only been laid down -two decades previously.	0:09:51	0:09:55
-By painting their city, -the Impressionists painted...	0:09:55	0:09:59
-..the modern world.	0:09:59	0:10:00
-So the Impressionists decided...	0:10:12	0:10:14
-..to hold their own -independent exhibitions.	0:10:14	0:10:17
-And it was here, at No 35, -Boulevard des Capucines...	0:10:17	0:10:20
-..in a photographic studio, that the -first exhibition ever was held...	0:10:21	0:10:25
-..of Impressionist paintings.	0:10:25	0:10:27
-One painting in the exhibition -was Renoir's 'La Parisienne'.	0:10:31	0:10:35
-It marks the beginning -of this new style of painting.	0:10:35	0:10:39
-Today, it's one of the most famous -paintings in the Davies collection.	0:10:39	0:10:43
-It shows a young actress -in her fashionable clothes...	0:10:44	0:10:48
-..encapsulating the spirit -of the modern city.	0:10:48	0:10:51
-Gwendoline paid 5,000 -for it in 1913.	0:10:52	0:10:54
-It sounds cheap today, when Renoir's -works sell for millions of pounds.	0:10:54	0:10:59
-But, in 1900, an ordinary -worker earned 2 a week.	0:11:00	0:11:04
-5,000 was a considerable sum.	0:11:05	0:11:07
-And there was more -collecting to come.	0:11:09	0:11:12
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-One of the Impressionists' -main themes was Parisian life.	0:11:37	0:11:42
-The cafes and theatres, and the -city itself, its streets and people.	0:11:43	0:11:47
-But these paintings didn't -appeal to the Davies sisters.	0:11:47	0:11:51
-Maybe they didn't correspond -to their puritanical background...	0:11:51	0:11:55
-..and their moderate lifestyle.	0:11:55	0:11:57
-Rather than create idealised scenes, -the Impressionists preferred...	0:11:59	0:12:03
-..to show their city as it was, -with its dirt, industry...	0:12:03	0:12:07
-..and even the rain.	0:12:07	0:12:09
-Like this painting -by Pissarro of the Pont Neuf.	0:12:11	0:12:15
-This is the only painting that -Margaret and Gwendoline bought...	0:12:26	0:12:29
-..of the city centre.	0:12:30	0:12:31
-As is often true with -the Impressionists' work...	0:12:31	0:12:34
-..the bridge itself isn't important, -while the general impression is.	0:12:35	0:12:39
-The dull weather and people -hurrying like ants in the sleet.	0:12:39	0:12:43
-Pissarro painted -14 paintings of the Pont Neuf...	0:12:44	0:12:47
-..showing it at different times -of the day and of the year.	0:12:48	0:12:52
-In 1900, the Impressionists' work -wasn't easily available in Britain.	0:13:07	0:13:12
-But, with their wealth, Gwendoline -and Margaret were able to travel.	0:13:12	0:13:16
-They often came to Paris to follow -the developments of the art market.	0:13:17	0:13:22
-The sisters were especially -fond of frequenting one art gallery.	0:13:25	0:13:29
-The Bernheim-Jeune Gallery -is very important in the history...	0:13:49	0:13:52
-..of the Davies sisters collection.	0:13:52	0:13:54
-It was here they began collecting -the Impressionists' work.	0:13:54	0:13:58
-In 1912, Gwendoline bought -a painting by Manet here...	0:13:58	0:14:01
-..of Petit Montrouge, as well -as two paintings of Venice by Monet.	0:14:01	0:14:05
-In the following years, the sisters -bought 28 paintings here.	0:14:05	0:14:10
-They bought ground-breaking works.	0:14:12	0:14:14
-They were amongst the first -collectors in Britain...	0:14:14	0:14:18
-..to buy modern French art. -So why did they do so?	0:14:18	0:14:21
-It was formerly believed that Hugh -Blaker chose the works for them.	0:14:22	0:14:25
-In reality, they often -chose works themselves.	0:14:26	0:14:29
-The paintings appealed to them, -but they also liked a bargain.	0:14:29	0:14:33
-They saw that they could still buy -the paintings at a reasonable price.	0:14:33	0:14:37
-Gwendoline paid 250 -for this in 1912.	0:14:39	0:14:42
-It's one of the first -Impressionist works she bought.	0:14:43	0:14:46
-It's by Manet, who was older -than the other Impressionists...	0:14:46	0:14:49
-..and not officially -a member of the group.	0:14:50	0:14:53
-But his work had a great influence -on the younger artists.	0:14:53	0:14:56
-The Impressionsts' work was new...	0:14:57	0:14:59
-..in the way they painted -outdoors on location...	0:14:59	0:15:03
-..in this case, in the village -of Petit Montrouge near Paris...	0:15:03	0:15:07
-..where Manet was a soldier -during the Franco-Prussian War.	0:15:07	0:15:11
-To create the impression -of the desolate, wintry weather...	0:15:12	0:15:15
-..Manet used greyish tones and -painted with broad, robust strokes.	0:15:15	0:15:20
-Not an obviously attractive picture, -it was an unexpected choice...	0:15:21	0:15:24
-..for Gwendoline...	0:15:25	0:15:26
-..and an indication of the other -daring choices that would follow.	0:15:26	0:15:30
-One of the Impressionists' central -themes was the world of nature.	0:15:47	0:15:51
-No-one was more entranced -by nature's colours than Monet.	0:15:51	0:15:54
-He built a pool -in his garden in Giverny...	0:15:55	0:15:57
-..and spent the last 25 years of -his life studying the reflections...	0:15:57	0:16:01
-..and light on the water surface, -and of course, the water lilies.	0:16:01	0:16:05
-We should remember that Gwendoline -and Margaret often bought art...	0:16:06	0:16:09
-..that was very contemporary.	0:16:09	0:16:11
-For example, Gwendoline -bought these paintings by Monet...	0:16:11	0:16:14
-..of water lilies only about six or -seven years after he painted them.	0:16:15	0:16:19
-And she didn't buy one, but three. -There was a good reason for that.	0:16:19	0:16:23
-In his early works, Monet wanted -to capture one moment's impression.	0:16:33	0:16:36
-As he grew older, he wanted -to show the passage of time...	0:16:36	0:16:40
-..the changing colours, light -and shadow, as one second blended...	0:16:41	0:16:45
-..into the next. So, he began to -paint several series of paintings...	0:16:45	0:16:49
-..showing the same subject -but at different times of the day.	0:16:49	0:16:53
-While painting the water lilies...	0:16:59	0:17:01
-..Monet's sight deteriorated -because of cataracts on his eyes.	0:17:02	0:17:05
-His gallery, the Bernheim-Jeune -in Paris, sent a letter...	0:17:06	0:17:09
-..to Hugh Blaker, encouraging the -sisters to buy these paintings...	0:17:09	0:17:12
-..while there was still a chance.	0:17:13	0:17:14
-Without hesitation, -Gwendoline bought three.	0:17:15	0:17:18
-She paid 3,370 for them in 1913.	0:17:24	0:17:27
-Recently, a similar painting -of water lilies was sold...	0:17:29	0:17:33
-..for 18,500,000.	0:17:33	0:17:35
-Gwendoline even came here -during the First World War.	0:17:49	0:17:52
-At the time, she was a volunteer -at a military canteen...	0:17:53	0:17:56
-..in Troyes, northern France.	0:17:56	0:17:58
-But, in February, 1918, she caught -the train to Paris on her own.	0:17:58	0:18:02
-While German bombs -were raining on the city...	0:18:02	0:18:05
-..she came here and bought -two paintings by Cezanne.	0:18:06	0:18:09
-This landscape was one of the most -daring and unique works...	0:18:17	0:18:21
-..that Gwendoline bought.	0:18:22	0:18:23
-At the time, Cezanne was -considered to be ultra modern.	0:18:23	0:18:27
-In Britain, almost -no-one else bought his work.	0:18:27	0:18:31
-Cezanne wanted to depict nature -as permanent and unchanging.	0:18:34	0:18:38
-He painted natural elements, -trees and rocks...	0:18:38	0:18:42
-..as solid, geometric forms.	0:18:42	0:18:44
-For him, the basic structure of -the landscape was more important...	0:18:46	0:18:50
-..than the changes -that were seen from hour to hour.	0:18:50	0:18:54
-Paintings of nature like these -appealed greatly to the sisters.	0:18:56	0:19:00
-It's surprising, considering -the origins of their wealth...	0:19:00	0:19:03
-..that there aren't more paintings -of industry in the collection.	0:19:03	0:19:06
-But here is one - an industrial -scene of the port of Rouen.	0:19:07	0:19:11
-The smoky steamers carry their cargo -into the port, as the sun sets.	0:19:11	0:19:15
-Margaret bought this, in 1920...	0:19:16	0:19:18
-..perhaps as a souvenir, -because she spent time in Rouen...	0:19:18	0:19:22
-..during the First World War.	0:19:22	0:19:23
-There's another, rather unexpected -link, with the Davies family too.	0:19:35	0:19:39
-Some believe that cargoes from David -Davies's coal mines were carried...	0:19:39	0:19:43
-..in these steamers.	0:19:44	0:19:46
-In the collection, there is only -one painting by Vincent Van Gogh...	0:19:53	0:19:58
-..'Rain in Auvers'.	0:19:58	0:20:00
-It's a very important painting in -the artist's short, productive life.	0:20:09	0:20:13
-It was one of the last he painted...	0:20:14	0:20:16
-..when he lived in the village -of Auvers, northern France.	0:20:16	0:20:19
-After a period of mental illness, -Van Gogh walked into a cornfield...	0:20:20	0:20:24
-..very similar to this one -and shot himeslf.	0:20:24	0:20:27
-He died at the age of 37.	0:20:27	0:20:29
-It's also a significant work in -the Davies sisters collection too...	0:20:31	0:20:34
-..since it marks the end of a -period of enthusiastic collecting.	0:20:35	0:20:39
-During this period, the sisters -had harrowing experiences...	0:20:42	0:20:45
-..that changed their priorities.	0:20:46	0:20:48
-In 1916, in the First World War, -Gwendoline went to France...	0:20:48	0:20:53
-..to run a military canteen.	0:20:53	0:20:55
-This was very unusual -for a woman at the time.	0:20:55	0:20:58
-But, all her life, Gwendoline -wanted to use her wealth...	0:20:59	0:21:02
-..to help others.	0:21:02	0:21:04
-With school friends, she opened -the 'Cantine des Dames Anglaises'...	0:21:04	0:21:08
-..offering food and solace to the -young men on their way to the Front.	0:21:08	0:21:12
-Margaret joined her -the following year.	0:21:13	0:21:15
-The War had a huge -effect on the sisters.	0:21:18	0:21:21
-After seeing the suffering -in France with their own eyes...	0:21:21	0:21:24
-..they decided that collecting -wasn't appropriate any more.	0:21:25	0:21:29
-Instead, they concentrated -on charities...	0:21:29	0:21:32
-..and also on activities -here in Gregynog.	0:21:32	0:21:35
-Gregynog is the mansion bought -by Gwendoline and Margaret in 1920.	0:21:49	0:21:54
-In the years that followed, -it became a centre for the arts...	0:21:55	0:21:59
-..where prominent figures -of the day came together...	0:21:59	0:22:03
-..and a home for the sisters -and their remarkable art collection.	0:22:04	0:22:08
-Music was also an inspiration -for Gwendoline and Margaret...	0:22:14	0:22:17
-..all their lives, -almost as much as art.	0:22:18	0:22:21
-In Gregynog, they established -an annual music festival...	0:22:21	0:22:25
-..and attracted some of -the leading composers of the day...	0:22:25	0:22:28
-..including Holst -and Elgar, to mid Wales.	0:22:28	0:22:31
-It's strange to think that -this room, the Music Room...	0:22:33	0:22:37
-..was at one time full of paintings -by Monet, Turner and Cezanne.	0:22:37	0:22:41
-Renoir's 'La Parisienne'...	0:22:41	0:22:43
-..one of the collection's -most famous paintings...	0:22:43	0:22:46
-..could be seen by the door.	0:22:47	0:22:48
-Many visitors came to Gregynog.	0:23:05	0:23:07
-Nevertheless, the two sisters -were very private people.	0:23:07	0:23:10
-According to some, -the atmosphere in Gregynog...	0:23:11	0:23:13
-..was exceedingly respectable.	0:23:14	0:23:15
-Joyce Grenfell said, "Staying -at Gregynog was a mixed blessing.	0:23:16	0:23:20
-"The music was unalloyed pleasure.	0:23:20	0:23:22
-"But the atmosphere in the house -was cool, correct and daunting."	0:23:22	0:23:26
-This was one -of the sisters' bedrooms.	0:23:31	0:23:34
-When they furnished the house, -they continued to support artists...	0:23:34	0:23:37
-..by commissioning furniture -from local craftsmen.	0:23:38	0:23:41
-They wanted to create -an atmosphere of beauty...	0:23:41	0:23:44
-..but in a simple, useful style, -in Gwendoline's words.	0:23:45	0:23:49
-Maybe one of the best-known facts...	0:23:57	0:23:59
-..about Gwendoline and Margaret -Davies, in Wales at least...	0:23:59	0:24:01
-..is that they founded -the Gregynog Press.	0:24:02	0:24:05
-Before the Second World War, the -press printed over 40 fine books...	0:24:06	0:24:11
-..printed by hand, with pictures by -artists invited to live in Gregynog.	0:24:11	0:24:16
-This was one of the sisters' most -important and enduring projects.	0:24:19	0:24:23
-The press is still printing -to this day.	0:24:23	0:24:26
-All their lives, -the sisters were very aware...	0:24:32	0:24:35
-..of the origins of their wealth.	0:24:35	0:24:37
-They were keen to give -some of it back to Wales.	0:24:37	0:24:41
-After Gwendoline's death in 1951, -and Margaret in 1963...	0:24:42	0:24:46
-..their remarkable art -collection was bequeathed...	0:24:47	0:24:50
-..to the National Museum, Cardiff, -where everyone can enjoy it.	0:24:50	0:24:54
-Without the shrewd eyes of -Gwendoline and Margaret Davies...	0:24:58	0:25:01
-..their vision and generosity...	0:25:01	0:25:03
-..our national art collection -would be much poorer.	0:25:03	0:25:07
-Their aim, by leaving -their collection to the nation...	0:25:07	0:25:10
-..was to enrich our cultural world.	0:25:10	0:25:12
-To this day, their collection -continues to inspire people...	0:25:12	0:25:16
-..here in Wales, and beyond.	0:25:16	0:25:19
-S4/C Subtitles by GWEAD	0:25:48	0:25:50
-.	0:25:50	0:25:52

Y Chwiorydd Davies

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