'A stunningly packaged hardback exploring the rich visual and textual material in the Grimwade Collection, and providing a unique perspective on Australia's history.
'The Russell and Mab Grimwade Bequest comprises a rich and sometimes unexpected variety of art, books and objects. A scientist, businessman and philanthropist, Sir Russell had wide-ranging interests embracing industry, history and botany. In all of these he was strongly supported by his wife Mab. The core of the bequest is Russell's collection of visual and textual material, which provides a perspective on the European exploration of the Pacific and the British colonisation and settlement of Australia. His keen interest resulted in an extensive body of prints, drawings, watercolours and books, as well as oil paintings, decorative arts and personal records. These are jointly housed by the University of Melbourne's Ian Potter Museum of Art, Special Collections (Library) and University Archives. Pride of Place is the first publication to explore the diversity of this remarkable collection. In this beautifully illustrated book, numerous experts share their interpretations of its highlights, responding to past historical attitudes and offering twenty-first century insights.' (Publication summary)
'Collectors are particular kinds of people; Sir Russell Grimwade (1879–1955) was no exception. For twenty-five years, he carried a handwritten list in his wallet: ‘West Engravings 1813–14 Missing Numbers’, referring to an obscure print series, Absalom West’s Views of Sydney and Surrounds. These are the first landscape engravings produced in the colony of New South Wales in 1813–14. Grimwade’s list (May 1930) is of thirteen of the twenty-four prints, known by number, still to be collected. As each one was acquired, it was crossed off. This small archival fragment gives an insight into how Grimwade, a collector of Australiana, operated. He was Melbourne’s version of Sydney’s famed David Scott Mitchell and William Dixon. Grimwade’s extraordinary collection is of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century books, prints, watercolours, drawings, photographs, maps and other objects amassed between c.1920 and 1955. His wife Mab (Lady Grimwade) added a few contemporary paintings after he died, and in 1973, following Lady Grimwade’s death, their home Miegunyah and its contents were bequeathed to the University of Melbourne. This is what is known as the Grimwade collection. It is vast and includes 100 volumes held in Special Collections and 700 artworks in the University’s Art Collection. Pride of Place: Exploring the Grimwade Collection turns the microscope on selected items in this collection.' (Introduction)
'Pride of Place describes in detail a selection of the outstanding collection of Australian books, paintings, photographs, and prints that Russell and Mabel Grimwade donated to the University of Melbourne. The main focus is on Russell, but they were clearly a team with shared interests in Australian native trees and plants and the European history of Australia.' (Introduction)
'Pride of Place describes in detail a selection of the outstanding collection of Australian books, paintings, photographs, and prints that Russell and Mabel Grimwade donated to the University of Melbourne. The main focus is on Russell, but they were clearly a team with shared interests in Australian native trees and plants and the European history of Australia.' (Introduction)
'Collectors are particular kinds of people; Sir Russell Grimwade (1879–1955) was no exception. For twenty-five years, he carried a handwritten list in his wallet: ‘West Engravings 1813–14 Missing Numbers’, referring to an obscure print series, Absalom West’s Views of Sydney and Surrounds. These are the first landscape engravings produced in the colony of New South Wales in 1813–14. Grimwade’s list (May 1930) is of thirteen of the twenty-four prints, known by number, still to be collected. As each one was acquired, it was crossed off. This small archival fragment gives an insight into how Grimwade, a collector of Australiana, operated. He was Melbourne’s version of Sydney’s famed David Scott Mitchell and William Dixon. Grimwade’s extraordinary collection is of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century books, prints, watercolours, drawings, photographs, maps and other objects amassed between c.1920 and 1955. His wife Mab (Lady Grimwade) added a few contemporary paintings after he died, and in 1973, following Lady Grimwade’s death, their home Miegunyah and its contents were bequeathed to the University of Melbourne. This is what is known as the Grimwade collection. It is vast and includes 100 volumes held in Special Collections and 700 artworks in the University’s Art Collection. Pride of Place: Exploring the Grimwade Collection turns the microscope on selected items in this collection.' (Introduction)
