David W. T. Cargill
David William Traill Cargill (1872–1939) was a Scottish philanthropist and art collector. He gives his name to the David W T Cargill Fund.[1] He endowed the David Cargill Chair of Geriatric Medicine at Glasgow University.[2]
He was described as an "art collector of great discrimination".[3]
Life[edit]
He was born on 14 January 1872 the son of David Sime Cargill (1827-1905) of 9 Park Terrace in Glasgow. His mother was Margaret Traill (1840-1872) who died at his birth or soon after. His father worked for Milne & Co in the city. Their five storey townhouse faced onto Kelvingrove Park (the house still exists and is a listed building). In 1878 his father married Connell Elizabeth Auld who became David's step-mother.[4]
His father founded the Burmah Oil Company in 1886 and became immensely wealthy.
He worked for Milne & Co in Glasgow and, with his brother Sir John Traill Cargill were also Directors of Burmah Oil.
In 1910 he was living at 59 Partickhill Road in Glasgow.[5]
In March 1920 he bought William McTaggart's "Where the Smugglers Came Ashore" for £2500 through the art dealer Alexander Reid.[6] Other known acquisitions are Renoir's "Mont Sainte-Victoire"[7] and Corot's "Brume matinale au marais".[8] He also owned works by Manet, Monet, Sisley, Pissarro, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Seurat and Cezanne.
In 1922 he bought "Jockeys Before the Race by Degas (through Reid) for £2100.[9]
At some point in the 1930s he bought "Arrangement in Black" (a sister-piece to Arrangement in Grey and Black aka Whistler's Mother) by James Whistler.[10]
He died in Lanark on 5 September 1939. His will sold off his art collection to provide multiple philanthropic donations to the university and to Glasgow's well being. The David W T Cargill Trust created other facilities such as the David Cargill Centre which cares for the elderly[11] and David Cargill House.[12]
Artistic recognition[edit]
He was portrayed in the act of analysing art by Honoré Daumier known as "Advice to a Young Artist".[13]
Family[edit]
He was married to Berthe Josephine Chopier (d.1947).[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "David William Traill Cargill Fund". Funding Scotland. 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ Scotland (2008-07-10). "University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of David Traill Cargill". Universitystory.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ Glasgow Herald: 7 September 1939 (obituary)
- ^ Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography, published 1986
- ^ Glasgow Post Office Directory 1910
- ^ Alexander Reid in Context by Frances Fowle vol.1
- ^ "Mont Sainte-Victoire | Yale University Art Gallery". Artgallery.yale.edu. 1980-12-14. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ "19th Century European Art including Sporting Paintings / Lot 154". www.sothebys.com.
- ^ Alexander Reid in Context, Frances Fowle,_vol1
- ^ a b "Whistler Paintings :: Management Pages - Exhibitions Search".
- ^ "David Cargill Centre | Glasgow's Golden Generation". Glasgowgg.org.uk. 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ "David Cargill House". David Cargill House.
- ^ "Provenance".