A Selection of Acquisitions of The Contemporary Art Society

In 1910, a group of collectors and critics complained that 'some of the finer artistic talent of our time was imperfectly, or not at all, represented in National and Municipal Galleries'.

The history of the Society threw an interesting light on the painting and the taste over the years. The principle was that the choice of works purchased should be in the hands of a single member of the Committee, and each year different individuals are allotted this task: the purpose of this is to avoid the compromises that too often result when the choice is in the hands of a committee.

The Society aims at encouraging the talent of little-known artists as well as enriching public collections with works by painters, draughtsmen and sculptors of established reputation.

This exhibition includes works by Francis Bacon, Vanessa Bell, Charles Conder, Paul Gauguin, Duncan Grant, Augustus John, Paul Nash, Ben Nicholson.