Post by Poundbury on Mar 9, 2006 1:43:27 GMT 1
From the Dorset Echo -
Commemoration plea for `forgotten artist'
From the archive, first published Wednesday 8th Mar 2006.
AN ART lover is calling for Dorchester to mark the 150th birthday of the town's `forgotten' artist.
Tom Roberts' paintings are among the most prized in Australia, where he is ranked as the equivalent to England's John Constable.
But in the town where he was born 150 years ago today Roberts has been forgotten, claims art fanatic Mike Newby.
Mr Newby, of Brookhouse Street, Poundbury, said: "Roberts moved to Australia at the age of 13.
"The whole country regards him as its greatest artist but we haven't cottoned on to the fact that he was born and raised here.
"I can't understand why he has been forgotten."
In Australia, where Mr Newby's two daughters live, Roberts was commissioned to paint the 250 members of Australia's first parliament and his most famous works have been featured on postage stamps.
Roberts was christened in All Saints Church, Dorchester, and lived in High East Street and Fordington.
He was a pupil at the Hardye Grammar School and his father, Richard Roberts, was editor of the Dorset County Chronicle.
A plaque marking his birthplace in Durngate Street was erected four years ago when Dorchester's chamber of commerce pledged to host an anniversary exhibition of his work in 2006.
Mr Newby is now calling for the plans to be made a reality.
Chamber of commerce chairman Derrick Buswell said the member who suggested the exhibition, Richard Thorogood, has since left Dorchester and no one else has taken up the issue.
He added: "The town promotion sub-committee would be happy to help anybody willing to take the initiative to hold an exhibition, but we couldn't take it on as a major project ourselves - we just haven't got the people at the moment."
Dorset County Museum has two pieces of Roberts' work, a painting and a bust, but both are in storage.
Curator Jenny Cripps said: "We have an awful lot of material in storage and have limited space to show everything we have."
Dr Cripps said the museum would consider putting the work on display to mark the anniversary.
Commemoration plea for `forgotten artist'
From the archive, first published Wednesday 8th Mar 2006.
AN ART lover is calling for Dorchester to mark the 150th birthday of the town's `forgotten' artist.
Tom Roberts' paintings are among the most prized in Australia, where he is ranked as the equivalent to England's John Constable.
But in the town where he was born 150 years ago today Roberts has been forgotten, claims art fanatic Mike Newby.
Mr Newby, of Brookhouse Street, Poundbury, said: "Roberts moved to Australia at the age of 13.
"The whole country regards him as its greatest artist but we haven't cottoned on to the fact that he was born and raised here.
"I can't understand why he has been forgotten."
In Australia, where Mr Newby's two daughters live, Roberts was commissioned to paint the 250 members of Australia's first parliament and his most famous works have been featured on postage stamps.
Roberts was christened in All Saints Church, Dorchester, and lived in High East Street and Fordington.
He was a pupil at the Hardye Grammar School and his father, Richard Roberts, was editor of the Dorset County Chronicle.
A plaque marking his birthplace in Durngate Street was erected four years ago when Dorchester's chamber of commerce pledged to host an anniversary exhibition of his work in 2006.
Mr Newby is now calling for the plans to be made a reality.
Chamber of commerce chairman Derrick Buswell said the member who suggested the exhibition, Richard Thorogood, has since left Dorchester and no one else has taken up the issue.
He added: "The town promotion sub-committee would be happy to help anybody willing to take the initiative to hold an exhibition, but we couldn't take it on as a major project ourselves - we just haven't got the people at the moment."
Dorset County Museum has two pieces of Roberts' work, a painting and a bust, but both are in storage.
Curator Jenny Cripps said: "We have an awful lot of material in storage and have limited space to show everything we have."
Dr Cripps said the museum would consider putting the work on display to mark the anniversary.
