The Victor Batte Lay Foundation holds a varied and extensive art collection, which all together gives a powerful insight into East Anglian culture.
The collection includes well-known and prominent artists, such as John Constable, Camille Pissaro, Paul Nash and John Nash, and Maggi Hambling. A catalogue of the work can be found on the Victor Batte Lay website. Visitors can book to view pieces not on display by emailing info@theminories.org
The Victor Batte Lay Foundation holds a varied and extensive art collection, which all together gives a powerful insight into East Anglian culture.
HISTORY OF THE COLLECTION
The original bequest which focused on British art and artists from the 17th century onwards included still lives, regency portraits, 18th century prints and drawings, 19th century samplers and oil paintings. It then expanded through a number of modern acquisitions and loans over the years and, despite a period of financial difficulties in the 1990s which meant that a small number of works had to be sold, the collection now brings together a wide and interesting range of material.
Today, the Victor Batte-Lay Foundation Collection includes works by internationally celebrated artists with local relevance such as John Constable with three drawings, John and Paul Nash with a large number of lithographs and woodcuts, and Camille Pissarro with a series of pencil caricature sketches drawn for his mother. Roderic Barrett whose work is at the V&A, Maggi Hambling RA with a painting from The Max Wall series and Humphrey Spender with a watercolour entitled Gross National Product are also represented. Leon Underwood who counted Henry Moore as one of his students is there too.
In 2006, the Public Catalogue Foundation at the instigation of the National Gallery, recorded the oil paintings in the collection and these were included in their Essex Catalogue. A report (by the Public Catalogue Foundation), to the House of Commons’ Culture Media and Sport Committee followed later in 2006. The findings brought into sharp focus the lack of access to publicly owned collections. As a result, the VBLT launched an on-line catalogue of the collection, designed by Sophie Baker and produced by their fine art consultant, Evelyne Bell in 2009.
The Victor Batte-Lay Collection now comprises a broad range of works; not currently on permanent display. Selections from the collection are scheduled displayed in the centre of Colchester at Tymperleys and Layer Marney Tower.
CONTRIBUTORS
The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation wish to express thanks to the following individuals and organisations. Their effort, support and enthusiasm have enabled the collection to be accessed by a wider audience.
Evelyne Bell, Fine Art Consultant, who organized and directed the team that produced the first on-line catalogue, writing many of the entries herself
Essex Heritage Trust for providing a generous grant for the research and design of the original catalogue on line
Suki Cohen, a former trustee of the VBLF, now Chair of the Friends of the Minories, for sponsoring the photography and researching the Foundation archives
Doug Atfield, photographer, for the production of the excellent images in the on-line catalogue
Sophie Baker for the design of the original on-line catalogue
Research students from the Art History and Theory Department at the University of Essex
Tom Hodgson, Community History Manager, Ciara Canning Assistant Curator of Community History, Emma Roodhouse, Art Curator, and Stephen Yates, all from Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service for their supportive help
Janet Spence from firstsite for sourcing information
Charlotte Hodgson for research
The late Canon John Woods, for his support and encouragement when Chairman of the VBLT