Saturday February 8 2025 in the gallery. Today the artist, Becky Atherton, whose exhibition on Anne Haworth is currently displayed, gave a talk on her paintings. She gave an entertaining insight into the inspiration for each picture, which featured many aspects of Anne’s life. Talking about Anne’s social conscience and her generosity, she showed a picture which featured Anne with her two housemaids, who were both unmarried mothers. Anne employed both of them even though, in her social circle, unmarried mothers were considered the lowest of the low and were never employed. Anne made her own decisions and wasn’t bound by convention in this respect. Her generosity was also shown by two hands cascading coins, as well as a depiction of her house which she gave to Accrington to be used as an art gallery. (Now Haworth Art Gallery)
Another picture featured the car Anne had converted to an ambulance for Accrington. Others showed her with her brother, William, and her companion, Ellen Priestley, and denoted their travels in Europe and Egypt. Several paintings also included cameos of items from the house, which Anne and William had had built. They had chosen all the fixtures and fittings, the house reflecting their love of the arts and crafts movement.
As Anne had loved ceramics, Becky had taken some vases and made sculptural pieces from them on which she had painted aspects relating to Anne’s life.
On view, we had several of Anne’s belongings on display: vases, incense burner, ivory card case and ivory fan as well as her miniature of her brother
William. We also had on display photographs of William, Anne and Ellen together with our books on their lives and those of their staff.
The exhibition was an amazing tribute to Anne. The people who came to the talk were really interested, viewed Anne’s items from the gallery collection and then tried to find them depicted on the paintings.
A most enjoyable and interesting afternoon. Thanks to the Friends of Haworth Art Gallery who helped with the display and looked after the items on show, as well as talking to visitors and answering their questions.
