OA 2020

Celebrating the 400th anniversary of the founding of Dulwich College

PAGE 17

2019

Dulwich 400

2019 marked the 400th anniversary of Edward Alleyn’s College of God’s Gift, founded in Dulwich by the celebrated actor, entrepreneur and benefactor. He was a colourful and famous figure in Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre. At the age of 47, Alleyn decided to establish a school for boys in London that would provide exceptional learning, strong artistic pursuits and good manners. In the four centuries since 1619, Edward Alleyn’s original vision for good learning has developed into several schools across London, as well as the original Chapel and Almshouses in Dulwich. The College’s anniversary programme of events and activities aspired to be a fitting tribute to Alleyn, giving thanks to his enduring legacy and employing it as an inspiration for our pupils and our wider community today.

Camille Pissarro and Gerard Stamp Art was right at the centre of our 400th anniversary celebrations with the unveiling of Gerard Stamp’s Dulwich College (2018). The beautiful watercolour painting of the College by architectural portraitist Gerard Stamp was commissioned by the Master for the quatercentenary. It features the Barry Buildings, rendering the fine red and buff historic architecture with its detailed embellishments, with a glimpse of The Laboratory, distilling the essence of Dulwich today. Stamp is the brother of the late Gavin Stamp (59-67), the eminent architectural historian who, as a pupil at the College, fought for the protection and restoration of the Barry Buildings which played a part in inspiring in him a life-long love of Victorian architecture. Camille Pissarro’s Dulwich College (1871) was loaned to Dulwich Picture Gallery between April and September 2019. The painting depicts the then new Barry Buildings, which were one of the very first in London to make wonderful use of terracotta, and was painted while Pissarro was living in Upper Norwood. It shows the buildings from beyond the pond on the far side of College Road, immersed in autumnal afternoon sunlight. A special loan from the Fondation Bemberg, Toulouse, the work returned to Dulwich for the first time since it was painted.

Prints of Gerard Stamp’s painting are available to purchase at the College shop. You can find out more by visiting the College website shop.dulwich. org.uk/store

The project was made possible by the generous support of Dr Peter Mudge (47-55).

For further information visit www.dulwich.org.uk/about/400th-anniversary/programme-of-events

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