# Gwendoline Davies > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gwendoline_Davies > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gwendoline_Davies.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwendoline_Davies > Source revision: 1311059366 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Welsh philanthropist For other people named Gwen Davies, see [Gwen Davies (disambiguation)](/source/Gwen_Davies_(disambiguation)). **Gwendoline Elizabeth Davies**, [CH](/source/Member_of_the_Order_of_the_Companions_of_Honour) (11 February 1882 – 3 July 1951) was a Welsh philanthropist and patron of the arts who, with her sister [Margaret](/source/Margaret_Davies), 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](/source/David_Davies_(industrialist)). 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](/source/National_Museum_Wales) in the mid-20th century. ## Early life and education Gwendoline Davies was born at [Llandinam](/source/Llandinam), daughter of Edward Davies and his wife Mary, who was the daughter of Evan Jones, a [Calvinistic Methodist](/source/Calvinistic_Methodist) minister.[1] Edward was the only son of the industrialist and philanthropist [David Davies](/source/David_Davies_(industrialist)). Gwendoline's brother [David Davies, 1st Baron Davies](/source/David_Davies%2C_1st_Baron_Davies), was elevated to the [Peerage](/source/Peerage) in 1932 and her sister was [Margaret](/source/Margaret_Davies). 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 [Impressionists](/source/Impressionism) and post-Impressionists, although they also acquired holdings of 20th-century modern artists, such as [Josef Herman](/source/Josef_Herman), [Oskar Kokoschka](/source/Oskar_Kokoschka), [Augustus John](/source/Augustus_John), [Stanley Spencer](/source/Stanley_Spencer), [Frank Brangwyn](/source/Frank_Brangwyn), and [Eric Gill](/source/Eric_Gill). [Hugh Blaker](/source/Hugh_Blaker), art collector who was curator of the [Holburne Museum](/source/Holburne_Museum) from 1905 – 1913 was an adviser to the Davies sisters and assisted in securing their vast art collection.[2] Gwendoline and Margaret Davies bought the mansion of [Gregynog](/source/Gregynog) just after the [First World War](/source/First_World_War), following long discussions with their lifelong friend [Thomas Jones](/source/Thomas_Jones_(civil_servant)),[3] and set up an arts centre there. In 1923 the sisters launched the [Gregynog Press](/source/Gregynog_Press), printing fine [limited editions](/source/Limited_edition) in both English and [Welsh](/source/Welsh_language). 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](/source/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](/source/Ralph_Vaughan_Williams), [Edward Elgar](/source/Edward_Elgar), [Gustav Holst](/source/Gustav_Holst), "the conductor [Adrian Boult](/source/Adrian_Boult), and the poet [Lascelles Abercrombie](/source/Lascelles_Abercrombie); and performers including [Jelly d'Arányi](/source/Jelly_d'Ar%C3%A1nyi) and the [Rothschild Quartet](/source/Kolisch_Quartet)."[4] The sisters ended the festival during the build-up to the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War). It was revived during 1955–1961 by [Ian Parrott](/source/Ian_Parrott), who was Gregynog Professor of Music at [Aberystwyth](/source/Aberystwyth) for more than 30 years. The festival was revived again in 1988 by the tenor [Anthony Rolfe Johnson](/source/Anthony_Rolfe_Johnson). It continues under Rhian Davies's direction.[4] ## Later life Neither of the sisters married. Gwen died in [Oxford](/source/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](/source/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."[5] In 1967, the Davies Memorial Gallery was purpose-built in [Newtown, Powys](/source/Newtown%2C_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. Turners](/source/J._M._W._Turner). Three of these, *[The Beacon Light](/source/The_Beacon_Light)*, *Margate Jetty* and *Off Margate*, were subsequently judged to be fake,[6] and were withdrawn from display. These works were re-examined for the BBC TV programme *[Fake or Fortune?](/source/Fake_or_Fortune%3F)*,[7] and in an episode broadcast in 2012 they were reinstated as genuine Turners. All seven paintings will now be exhibited together.[*[when?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*][*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Honours - 1937: appointed a [Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour](/source/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 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Lloyd-Morgan, Ceridwen. "Davies, Gwendoline Elizabeth". *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/39573](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F39573). (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["The Holburne Museum – I am Art in Bath Trevor Fishlock"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150928181917/http://www.holburne.org/events/i-am-art-in-bath/). Archived from [the original](http://www.holburne.org/events/i-am-art-in-bath/) on 28 September 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Ellis, Ted (1992). *T.J.: A Life of Dr Thomas Jones, CH*. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 246. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7083-1138-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7083-1138-5). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gregynog_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gregynog_4-1) [Ragor: "Gregynog: Arts and Music for Wales"](http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/1980/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130111090950/http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/1980/) 11 January 2013 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), National Museum Wales, accessed 13 October 2010 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Art: "Davies Sisters Collection"](https://museum.wales/collections/art/davies-sisters/), National Museum Wales, accessed 29 September 2010 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [End to doubts](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). Wales Online 1. **[^](#cite_ref-BBC_7-0)** ["Turner: A Miscarriage of Justice?"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n39kg). *Fake or Fortune?*. Series 2. Episode 2. 23 September 2012. BBC. Retrieved 19 September 2012. ## Sources - ["Gwendoline Davies"](http://wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s2-DAVI-ELI-1882.html), Welsh Biography Online - [BBC](https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4751437.stm) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF 2 GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Netherlands Artists ULAN Other IdRef Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gwendoline Davies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwendoline_Davies) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwendoline_Davies?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.