De Morgan Centre facts for kids

The Watts Gallery, where the De Morgan Foundation now has its office.

The De Morgan Centre for the Study of 19th Century Art and Society was a special art gallery in London, England. For a few years, it was home to the De Morgan Collection. This collection holds many artworks by a famous Victorian couple: William De Morgan and his wife, Evelyn De Morgan. William was a ceramic artist, known for his pottery. Evelyn was a painter.

William De Morgan's pottery was inspired by art from the Middle East, especially from a place called Iznik. He used bright blue and green colors in his glazes. He also rediscovered a special shiny glaze called "lustre glaze" in Victorian Britain. Evelyn De Morgan's paintings are known for their rich colors. She often painted strong female characters. Both William and Evelyn were interested in important social issues of their time, like women's suffrage (the right for women to vote). The museum shared how they were involved in these causes.

The De Morgan Collection

The De Morgan Collection includes oil paintings, pottery, drawings, and old documents. These items are all about the De Morgans and their friends. Evelyn De Morgan's sister, Mrs. Wilhelmina Stirling, created this collection. She wrote several books using the name A. M. W. Stirling. Mrs. Stirling used to let people see the collection at her home, Old Battersea House. She did this until she passed away in 1965.

The De Morgan Foundation

In 1967, a special group called the De Morgan Foundation was created. It's a charity, which means it's a non-profit group that helps others. Their job was to take care of the De Morgan Collection. Parts of the collection were lent to different places. These included Cardiff Castle, Cragside in Northumberland, and Knightshayes Court in Devon. These places were chosen because their interiors looked like homes from the time when the De Morgans were alive.

The De Morgan Centre Gallery

From 2002, the De Morgan Foundation opened a special gallery called the De Morgan Centre. This gallery was in a building that used to be the West Hill Reference Library in Wandsworth, South West London. The building itself was built in 1887. This was the same year William and Evelyn De Morgan got married!

The West Hill Library closed in 2007. Later, the De Morgan Foundation shared the building with the Wandsworth Museum. Both the De Morgan Centre and the Wandsworth Museum closed to the public on June 28, 2014. This happened because the building's owner, Wandsworth Council, decided not to continue their lease.

Where to See the Collection Now

Since the De Morgan Centre closed, the De Morgan Foundation has moved its office. It is now at the Watts Gallery in Compton, near Guildford in Surrey. The Foundation still takes care of the De Morgan Collection. They also continue to show it to the public. They do this through special loans, exhibitions, and tours. You can find more information about the De Morgan Collection and where to see it on the De Morgan Foundation's website.

Images for kids

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  Now closed, Wandsworth Museum was previously home to the De Morgan Foundation