LAST DYLAN PAINTING COMING ‘HOME’
THE last portrait of writer Dylan Thomas, painted two months before his death, has been bought by Carmarthenshire Council.
The council’s museum service, Cofgâr, took delivery of the painting last week after it had remained in the private collection of the artist, Gordon Stuart, until his death in 2015.
Painted in September 1953, it has only been seen publicly on two occasions – at the 1954 National Eisteddfod and 60 years later at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, the childhood home of Dylan in Uplands, Swansea.
Dylan Thomas is celebrated as the most significant writer of the 20th century in Wales.
This painting was one of four painted over three afternoons at the poet’s boathouse and writing shed in Laugharne.
Two of the four oil paintings are in the State University of New York in
Buffalo and the third is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London.
The painting was bought at auction from the artist’s estate at the Rogers Jones & Co Welsh Sale on April 17 for a hammer price of £15,000. The purchase was made possible with contributions from Art Fund and the Arts Council England/v&a Purchase Grant Fund and the National Lottery.
Executive board member for culture, sport and tourism, Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing this painting back to where Dylan Thomas spent his last years. It will take pride of place in the new gallery at Carmarthenshire Museum later this year for everyone to enjoy.”
The painting will be professionally conserved before going on display in a new gallery at Carmarthenshire Museum from September. It will then go on tour to the Dylan Thomas Boathouse and other venues in the region before returning to Carmarthenshire.
Auctioneer Ben Rogers Jones said: “We were privileged to auction the last portrait of Dylan Thomas created before his death, and we are delighted to see that the painting has stayed in Wales. But to know that the portrait will now visit the iconic Boathouse is the icing on the cake. As the Boathouse was Dylan’s last home, it does feel like the painting has come home to him.”
Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. It provides millions of pounds every year to help museums to acquire and share works of art across the UK, further the professional development of their curators, and inspire more people to visit and enjoy their public programmes. The Arts Council England/v&a Purchase Grant Fund is a government fund that helps regional museums, record offices and specialist libraries in Wales and England to acquire objects relating to the arts, literature and history.
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We are absolutely delighted to be bringing this painting back to where Dylan Thomas spent his last years
Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths