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Sylvia Pankhurst paintings of women at work acquired for Tate Sylvia Pankhurst paintings of women at work acquired by Tate
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Four watercolours of working women by the suffragette and human rights campaigner Sylvia Pankhurst have been acquired for Tate using funds from the billionaire Denise Coates. Four watercolours of working women by the suffragette and human rights campaigner Sylvia Pankhurst have been acquired by Tate using funds from the billionaire Denise Coates.
The four paintings show women at work in the cotton mills of Glasgow and the potteries of Staffordshire, and are part of a series that Pankhurst made as she toured industrial working environments in 1907. The paintings show women at work in the cotton mills of Glasgow and the potteries of Staffordshire, and are part of a series that Pankhurst made as she toured industrial working environments in 1907.
They have been acquired directly from the Pankhurst family for an undisclosed sum. Funds have come from the Denise Coates Foundation, a charity set up by the founder and chief executive of the Stoke-on-Trent-based online betting firm Bet365.They have been acquired directly from the Pankhurst family for an undisclosed sum. Funds have come from the Denise Coates Foundation, a charity set up by the founder and chief executive of the Stoke-on-Trent-based online betting firm Bet365.
Last month Coates was revealed to be the world’s best-paid female executive, with an annual pay packet of £265m.Last month Coates was revealed to be the world’s best-paid female executive, with an annual pay packet of £265m.
Helen Pankhurst, Sylvia’s granddaughter, said the family was delighted that Tate had acquired some of the paintings. “Sylvia was an artist as well as a champion of working women’s rights, her first passion not as well known as her second. In these beautiful pieces these interests are powerfully combined.”Helen Pankhurst, Sylvia’s granddaughter, said the family was delighted that Tate had acquired some of the paintings. “Sylvia was an artist as well as a champion of working women’s rights, her first passion not as well known as her second. In these beautiful pieces these interests are powerfully combined.”
The paintings had rarely been exhibited until this year when they were loaned to Manchester Art Gallery in the spring. They can currently be seen, until 6 January, at Scarborough Art Gallery. Tate’s plan is to put them on display at Tate Britain as part of a rehang of its permanent collection in 2020. The paintings had rarely been exhibited until this year when they were loaned to Manchester Art Gallery in the spring. They can be seen until 6 January at Scarborough Art Gallery. Tate’s plan is to put them on display at Tate Britain as part of a rehang of its permanent collection in 2020.
Pankhurst was a talented artist who trained at the Manchester School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. She used her skills in the fight for women’s rights, designing badges, banners and flyers for the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), the suffragette movement set up by her mother, Emmeline.Pankhurst was a talented artist who trained at the Manchester School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. She used her skills in the fight for women’s rights, designing badges, banners and flyers for the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), the suffragette movement set up by her mother, Emmeline.
Pankhurst’s 1907 tour involved her visiting and living with people in poor working-class communities, creating watercolours and writing accounts of what she saw.Pankhurst’s 1907 tour involved her visiting and living with people in poor working-class communities, creating watercolours and writing accounts of what she saw.
In Glasgow she wrote about “the almost deafening noise of the machinery and the oppressive heat”. The mill was “so hot and airless that I fainted within an hour”.In Glasgow she wrote about “the almost deafening noise of the machinery and the oppressive heat”. The mill was “so hot and airless that I fainted within an hour”.
In Staffordshire she was horrified to discover that women earned less than seven shillings a week while being exposed to hazardous flint dust and fumes from lead glazes. Women were firmly on the bottom rung doing jobs such as turning the wheel for throwers or treading the lathe for turners. “Each was employed by the man she toiled for – the slave of a slave, I thought!” In Staffordshire she was horrified to discover that women earned less than seven shillings a week while being exposed to hazardous flint dust and fumes from lead glazes. Women were firmly on the bottom rung, doing jobs such as turning the wheel for throwers or treading the lathe for turners. “Each was employed by the man she toiled for – the slave of a slave, I thought!”
Her pictures and accounts were published in the London Magazine and the WSPU journal Votes for Women.Her pictures and accounts were published in the London Magazine and the WSPU journal Votes for Women.
Pankhurst gave up art in 1912 to dedicate herself fully to the suffrage movement, founding the East London Federation of Suffragettes. Pankhurst gave up art in 1912 to dedicate herself fully to the women’s suffrage movement, founding the East London Federation of the Suffragettes.
She became increasingly estranged from her mother and her elder sister, Christabel, over her opposition to the first world war and her ceaseless pursuit of her socialist ideals. George Bernard Shaw once compared her to Joan of Arc, describing her as both “miraculous” and “unbearable”.She became increasingly estranged from her mother and her elder sister, Christabel, over her opposition to the first world war and her ceaseless pursuit of her socialist ideals. George Bernard Shaw once compared her to Joan of Arc, describing her as both “miraculous” and “unbearable”.
After women partially won the vote in 1918, Pankhurst focused more on socialist and pacifist work, and in later life she emigrated to Ethiopia, where she died in 1960. A state funeral was held in Addis Ababa.After women partially won the vote in 1918, Pankhurst focused more on socialist and pacifist work, and in later life she emigrated to Ethiopia, where she died in 1960. A state funeral was held in Addis Ababa.
Ann Gallagher, the director of collection (British art) at Tate, said: “At a time when gender pay gaps and women’s rights at work remain urgent topical issues, these images remind us of the role art can play in inspiring social change.” Ann Gallagher, the director of the British art collection at Tate, said: “At a time when gender pay gaps and women’s rights at work remain urgent topical issues, these images remind us of the role art can play in inspiring social change.”
This week Tate Britain announced it would rehang its galleries on art from the 1960s to the present with only female artists’ work. The galleries currently feature work by artists including David Hockney, Lubaina Himid, Rebecca Warren, Richard Hamilton and Anthony Caro. From April, for a year, the spaces will have no men’s work.This week Tate Britain announced it would rehang its galleries on art from the 1960s to the present with only female artists’ work. The galleries currently feature work by artists including David Hockney, Lubaina Himid, Rebecca Warren, Richard Hamilton and Anthony Caro. From April, for a year, the spaces will have no men’s work.
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Women's suffrageWomen's suffrage
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