Barbara Hepworth Museum facts for kids
The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden is a special place in St Ives, Cornwall. It keeps the home and workshop of a famous 20th-century artist named Barbara Hepworth just as they were. She was a sculptor, which means she made art by carving or shaping materials. Barbara Hepworth bought this place in 1949. She lived and worked there for 26 years until she passed away in 1975.
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About Barbara Hepworth's Studio
Barbara Hepworth bought her studio, called Trewyn Studio, in September 1949. She was a very important artist. Even Princess Anne visited her at the studio in 1972.
Barbara's living room is still set up as it was when she lived there. Her workshop is full of her tools, materials, and even some unfinished artworks. It's like she just stepped out for a moment!
The Museum's Beginning
Barbara Hepworth wanted her home and studio to become a museum after she was gone. Her family opened it in 1976, following her wishes. This museum has the largest collection of her artworks that you can see all the time.
Many of the sculptures in the museum are in the quiet garden. These were some of her favorite pieces. In her workshop, you can also see stones that she hadn't started carving yet. It's as if they are still waiting for her to begin.
In 1950, Barbara got two very large blocks of stone. She carved these into her famous artwork called Contrapuntal Forms. This piece was made for the Festival of Britain. The museum has photos that show how she created this huge sculpture.
Barbara also carved wood in an upstairs room. Later, she started making bronze statues. She would first create models out of plaster. These models were made in one of her outdoor studios.
Her friend, a composer named Priaulx Rainier, helped her create the beautiful garden.
Passing to the Tate
Barbara Hepworth passed away in 1975 in a fire at her studio. She was 72 years old. In 1980, her family gave the museum to the Tate gallery. The Tate still looks after the museum today.
See also
- The Hepworth Wakefield
- List of St Ives artists
- Tate St Ives
- List of single-artist museums
Images for kids
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A close-up view of Barbara Hepworth's tools in her workshop
