Edward Morris (1940–2016)
Philip Ward-Jackson
Edward Morris, who died on 29 May 2016, was the editorial board of this journal from its foundation in 1999 until 2001, and has earned himself a tribute pages, perhaps above all for his heroic efforts behalf PMSA's National Recording Project. He chair NRP virtually outset, it largely thanks to him that 17 volumes, including own, Public Sculpture Cheshire Merseyside (2012), have been published, several more are preparation. This selfless labour not only contribution sculpture studies, itself kind coda art-historical curatorial experiences lifetime. is how appears retrospect, but hardly an outcome those like myself, knew as student at Courtauld 1960s, or even student, could foreseen.The fact he born early stages Second World War, son officer Royal Navy, may account deep-rooted sobriety character, offset, admittedly, by fairly acute sense ridiculous life generally. His education first followed standard patrician pattern prep school, Rugby, BA history Peterhouse, Cambridge (1959). Between school university briefly taught English Spain, process improved own Spanish. interest art grown during five-year period spent working City. A college friend remembers their going together being brought up scratch Romanesque architecture Edward, had read Kenneth Conant's recently published Pelican, Carolingian Architecture 800-1200. In 1964 enrolled MA course Courtauld, upset find institute's medievalists were impressed Conant. courses there French eighteenth-century painting with Anita Brookner seventeenth-century landscape Michael Kitson Anthony Blunt. conversation time showed awe-inspiring familiarity nineteenth-century authors, Stendhal Henry James, through Ruskin less fashionable Thackeray.It met wife, Penny, both them lucky enough congenial work Liverpool end 1966. grounding literature excellent qualifications Walker Art Gallery, where remain curator retirement 1999. It Mary Bennett spearheading exposure Pre-Raphaelite painters Walker, gallery's holdings impressively international, took special paintings. Despite some recent bring area into conformity twentieth-century priorities, purchases works Monet Degas, unhappy bulk collection still reflected tastes Liverpool's mercantile classes days. researches culminate much later publication ambitious volume, Nineteenth Century Britain, Yale University Press 2005. By substantial advances made exploring activities sculptors Victorian these contributed rich texture book. 1994, under Edward's watch, acquired, assistance Collections Fund, important executed destination: Henri Chapu's marble effigy Duchess Nemours (1883), Orleans family oratory church St Charles Borromeo, Weybridge.With man boss crucial days, Timothy Stevens, gave detailed extraordinary boom museums galleries late 1980s. …
Sculpture Journal