Claude Monet & Swansea Crown Court

 Friday evening, Andrew Marr, returned on Channel 5, with his program, Great Paintings of the World.  In this episode, it was about Monet’s Water Lilies.  The Water Lilies are a series of 250 paintings, depicting the flower garden in his home in Giverny. The work started during 1899 and would be Monte’s last major piece of working lasting the last 30 years of his life.  Monte, died 1926.

These pieces of art are located all over the world.  The closet one in Wales, are 3 pieces along with a further 7 Monte pieces on display in the National Museum & Galleries of Wales, Cardiff.


Monet’s Water Lilies
National Museum & Galleries of Wales, Cardiff


Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Alexandra Road, Swansea
However, The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Alexandra Road, has the one piece painted by Monte, Bateaux en Hollande, pres de Zaandam.

Since the Glynn Vivian was first established in 1911.  It has been helped by art legacies.

Richard Glynn Vivian by Pfeninger
The first person, Richard Glynn Vivian born, 1835, was the founder of the art gallery and whom it is named after.  Richard was the fourth and youngest son of John Henry Vivian and Sarah Jones. 

When his father died, February 1855, Richard inherited a quarter of his father’s copper business, Vivian & Sons.  Leaving his brothers, Henry, William Graham and Arthur Vivian to be involved with the copper industry. Richard chose travel and pursued the arts.  Over time Richard had built a large art collection.




Gustave Doré
Richard was the patron of the French painter and illustrator Gustave Doré.  9 pieces by Doré are at the gallery.

La Sainte Trinite
by Gustave Doré

Aged 50, Richard married Laura Hermione Beatrice Halkett, who divorced him six years later, 1891.

1898, Richard had brought Sketty Hall, and it was here that Richard installed his art collection.  By 1902, Richard became almost blind. This affected deeply and strengthening his Christian faith. 1906, Richard endowed £30,000 to establish the Glynn Vivian Miners’ Mission, Pentre Mawr Road.  Richard’s valet and private secretary, Herbert Voke became the first pastor.  Tow years later, 1908 the second miner’s mission was established in Japan. 

Richard also established the Glynn Vivian Rest Home for the Blind, situated at Caswell Bay.

1905, Richard offered his art collection of paints, drawing and china to Swansea Corporation.  Initially the Corporation, were reluctant to accept the offer due to the maintenance costs.  This offer was renewed during 1908, and following a poll by the Swansea ratepayers, the Corporation accepted.  Glendinning Moxham, architect, who designed the gallery, in the style of Edwardian Baroque, and the foundation stone being laid by Richard on the 14th May 1909. 

The  following year, 1910, Richard aged 74 died from pneumonia at his London residence, 24 Eaton Square.  In his will, Richard who left a fortune in todays money is worth £30 million, leaving a generous provision to the females of the family.

William Graham Vivian
After the gallery was completed, it was opened by his brother William Graham, of Clynne Castle.

Francois Depeaux
The second person, to have aided the gallery is Francois Depeaux.

Francois born 1853, Bois-Guillaume, Normandy, France.  Francois was paton and friend of both Claude Monet and Alfred Sisley.

Situated at Ystradgynlais, Swansea Valley, situated under the “Mynydd Drum” an 18-foot steam anthracite mine was the International (Candy). Colliery.   It was originally called the International Anthracite colliery, it was owned by the French Anthracite Co., ownership was under French importers and was managed by a Frenchman, who qualified as a colliery manager.

By the end of 1898, the colliery was under the ownership of Mr. F. F. Depeaux, by 1903, the ownership was under “International Anthracite Association Ltd.”, but Francois was still behind the company. It was renamed in 1908,  “International Anthracite & Steam Coal Association Ltd”.

Between 1880 and 1920, Francois had acquired over 600 paintings.  During 1910, in the South Wales Chancery, there was a case concerning  Francois and his ex-wife Eugenie Marie.  The couple had been divorced since 1904, a court in Rouen decided that all property and assets should be equally divided between the couple, included the International Colliery. So, by 1910, Welsh Chancery ordered and put the sale in the hands of Mr Alexander. Finally, 1913, the colliery was sold for £30,000 to Abercrave Colliery Company.

Some of Francois’s art collection was spilt and sold during 1901, at Hotel Drouot.

Francois gifted to the Glynn Vivian a number of pieces, including A wharf on the Seine at Dieppedalle by Albert Lebourg and View of Rouen through an Apple Tree by Charles Frechon.

View of Rouen through an Apple Tree 
by Charles Frechon
A wharf on the Seine at Dieppedalle 
by Albert Lebourg
















Francois, died 1920, at Mesnil-Esnard, Normandy.  His son, Edmond inherited his coal business.  During 1940, Edmond, was denounced by the Kommandatur during the German occupation of France, and sentenced to death for storing arms, and then finally being shot on 17th December 1941.

Sir Alex Gordon
The final person, Sir Alex Gordon.

Alex was born 1917, Ayr was the son of John Tullis Gordon and Euphemia Baxter Borrowman.  The family moved to Swansea during 1925.  Alex was educated both in Swansea and Cardiff.   

Alex attended Swansea Grammar School, where he produced the school magazine with Dylan Thomas.

1935, Alex was a trainee architect in the Swansea Borough Architect’s Department, where he studied part time an RIBA intermediate examination, passing before the outbreak of the Second World War, 1939.

During the Second World War, Alex a major with the Royal Engineers, serving in Palestine, working on large-scale construction projects. After the Second World War, and leaving the army, Alex studied at the Welsh School of Architect, Cardiff. And was awarded a diploma with special distinction, 1948.

Swansea Crown Court
During this time, Alex designed several major buildings both in Cardiff and Swansea.  One of his major building in Swansea was the Crown Court, 1988.

From 1971 to 1973, Alex served as president of the Royal Institute of British Architects.  Alex was knighted during 1988.

Alex remained unmarried and liked Richard suffered from blindness and died 1999.  Alex was an art collector and bequeathed 32 paintings to the Glynn Vivian.

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