'Portrait of Jacqueline Glanville' by Winifred de Vany

We also have another portrait by her in our collections. It’s very similar in style and is of A A Cumming – the Assistant Curator and then Curator of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery from 1937-1978.

Sadly, we know very little information about Winifred. Most of the knowledge we do have is from a letter she sent to Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery’s keeper of art, Maureen Attrill in November 1986.

In the letter Winifred describes her life and it often makes for sobering reading – detailing many of the sacrifices and compromises she had to make over the years.

She originally planned to work in education, but after marrying during the First World War, she was prevented from doing so; at the time a married woman couldn’t become a certified teacher.

A period of living in the USA, recovering from serious illness, looking after two young children, caring for an elderly mother, and working as a hairdresser to help make ends meet (which she disliked) made it hard for her to fit in her own studies. She persevered however, and went on to attend classes at both Plymouth College of Art and the Chelsea College of Art, London.

Back in Plymouth once more by the 1950s, she lectured on art history to local societies and was Chair of the Plymouth Society of Artists (1955-1957).

By the 1980s, she still had the desire to learn more. In her letter to the City Museum and Art Gallery she wrote: “Because of family commitments I’ve not been able to study long enough anywhere for a degree though I would still like to do so.”

**See the painting on display, alongside a selection of works by other female artists, in our People and Place: Art Collection Showcase exhibition (on display until January 2024). Exhibition opening hours are 10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday and selected bank holidays. Admission is free and there's no need to book.

Thanks to Terah Walkup, curator of art and Jo Clarke, Marketing and Communications Officer at The Box.**