{{Short description|Welsh philanthropist}} {{other people|Gwen Davies}} {{EngvarB|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} '''Gwendoline Elizabeth Davies''', [[Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour|CH]] (11 February 1882 – 3 July 1951) was a Welsh philanthropist and patron of the arts who, with her sister [[Margaret Davies|Margaret]], is recognised as the most influential collector of Impressionist and 20th-century art in Wales. She and her sister were independently wealthy, their fortune inherited from the businesses created by their grandfather, the industrialist [[David Davies (industrialist)|David Davies]]. Davies and her sister created one of the most important private collections of art in Britain and donated their total of 260 works to what is now the [[National Museum Wales]] in the mid-20th century.
==Early life and education== Gwendoline Davies was born at [[Llandinam]], daughter of Edward Davies and his wife Mary, who was the daughter of Evan Jones, a [[Calvinistic Methodist]] minister.<ref>{{cite ODNB|id=39573|first=Ceridwen|last=Lloyd-Morgan|title=Davies, Gwendoline Elizabeth}}</ref> Edward was the only son of the industrialist and philanthropist [[David Davies (industrialist)|David Davies]]. Gwendoline's brother [[David Davies, 1st Baron Davies]], was elevated to the [[Peerage]] in 1932 and her sister was [[Margaret Davies|Margaret]]. Both girls were educated at Highfield School in Hendon.
==Arts patronage== ===Art collection=== In 1908 while travelling in Europe, the sisters began to collect art. In particular, they purchased many works by the [[Impressionism|Impressionists]] and post-Impressionists, although they also acquired holdings of 20th-century modern artists, such as [[Josef Herman]], [[Oskar Kokoschka]], [[Augustus John]], [[Stanley Spencer]], [[Frank Brangwyn]], and [[Eric Gill]]. [[Hugh Blaker]], art collector who was curator of the [[Holburne Museum]] from 1905 – 1913 was an adviser to the Davies sisters and assisted in securing their vast art collection.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.holburne.org/events/i-am-art-in-bath/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150928181917/http://www.holburne.org/events/i-am-art-in-bath/| archive-date = 2015-09-28| title = The Holburne Museum – I am Art in Bath Trevor Fishlock}} </ref>
Gwendoline and Margaret Davies bought the mansion of [[Gregynog]] just after the [[First World War]], following long discussions with their lifelong friend [[Thomas Jones (civil servant)|Thomas Jones]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Ellis |first=Ted|title=T.J.: A Life of Dr Thomas Jones, CH |year=1992 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |page=246 |isbn=0-7083-1138-5}}</ref> and set up an arts centre there. In 1923 the sisters launched the [[Gregynog Press]], printing fine [[limited edition]]s in both English and [[Welsh language|Welsh]]. Jones was chairman of the press throughout its existence.
===Music patronage – Gregynog Music Festival=== Whereas art was Margaret's passion, Gwen was a talented amateur musician. From 1933 to 1938, they sponsored the [[Gregynog Music Festival]] at their estate, a 3–4-day affair that included poetry readings. The festivals played host to important composers and other musical figures of the period, including [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]], [[Edward Elgar]], [[Gustav Holst]], "the conductor [[Adrian Boult]], and the poet [[Lascelles Abercrombie]]; and performers including [[Jelly d'Arányi]] and the [[Kolisch Quartet|Rothschild Quartet]]."<ref name=Gregynog>[http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/1980/ Ragor: "Gregynog: Arts and Music for Wales"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111090950/http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/1980/ |date=11 January 2013 }}, National Museum Wales, accessed 13 October 2010</ref>
The sisters ended the festival during the build-up to the [[Second World War]]. It was revived during 1955–1961 by [[Ian Parrott]], who was Gregynog Professor of Music at [[Aberystwyth]] for more than 30 years. The festival was revived again in 1988 by the tenor [[Anthony Rolfe Johnson]]. It continues under Rhian Davies's direction.<ref name=Gregynog />
==Later life== Neither of the sisters married. Gwen died in [[Oxford]]. Her ashes were buried at her birthplace of Llandinam, as were her sister's after her death in 1963.
==Art legacy== In 1953 and 1961, the Davies sisters' collection of 260 works was bequeathed to the [[National Museum of Wales]], forming the nucleus in the mid-20th century of its international art collection and greatly expanding its range. It has been called "one of the great British art collections of the 20th century."<ref>[https://museum.wales/collections/art/davies-sisters/ Art: "Davies Sisters Collection"], National Museum Wales, accessed 29 September 2010</ref>
In 1967, the Davies Memorial Gallery was purpose-built in [[Newtown, Powys]] with a legacy left by the Davies sisters. In January 2003, after major refurbishment, the Gallery re-opened as Oriel Davies Gallery in recognition of the sisters.
===Turners=== Among the works donated to the museum are seven oil paintings that were bought as [[J. M. W. Turner]]s. Three of these, ''[[The Beacon Light]]'', ''Margate Jetty'' and ''Off Margate'', were subsequently judged to be fake,<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/09/23/end-to-doubts-over-museum-s-turner-paintings-as-all-found-to-be-genuine-91466-31891905 End to doubts]. Wales Online</ref> and were withdrawn from display. These works were re-examined for the BBC TV programme ''[[Fake or Fortune?]]'',<ref name="BBC">{{Cite episode | title = Turner: A Miscarriage of Justice? | series = Fake or Fortune? | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n39kg | access-date = 19 September 2012 | network = BBC | date = 23 September 2012 | series-no = 2 | number = 2}}</ref> and in an episode broadcast in 2012 they were reinstated as genuine Turners. All seven paintings will now be exhibited together.{{When|date=January 2023}}{{Citation needed|reason=they currently aren't displayed together.|date=January 2023}}
==Honours== * 1937: appointed a [[Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour]]
==Note== Gwendoline Elizabeth Davies should not be confused with the Hon. Gwendoline Rita Jean Davies (born 1929), the daughter of her brother, David Davies, 1st Baron Davies.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== *[http://wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s2-DAVI-ELI-1882.html "Gwendoline Davies"], Welsh Biography Online *[https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4751437.stm BBC]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, Gwendoline}} [[Category:1882 births]] [[Category:1951 deaths]] [[Category:British publishers (people)]] [[Category:Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour]] [[Category:Welsh art collectors]] [[Category:British women art collectors]] [[Category:Welsh philanthropists]] [[Category:People from Powys]] [[Category:People associated with Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales]] [[Category:Private press movement people]]