UNIVERSITY NEWS
Generous gifts grace Macquarie’s art and antiquities collections
Macquarie has recently received two generous gifts from donors that are helping to enrich the cultural life of the University and build an art collection for all to enjoy.
The Museum of Ancient Cultures is celebrating the donation of a collection of Roman Forum engravings and photographs from the beginning of printing to the 20th century that was given to the University by donor and Macquarie University alumna Lynette Jensen.
“I set out to collect and curate a series of images of the Roman Forum that have strong visual impact and that are instructive individually and together,” Lynette says. “My main interest is in what the images have to tell us and teach us, and in how the medium of printing has played a central role in the spread of information and learning.”
The collection is on display at the Museum of Ancient Cultures from Monday-Friday 9.30am-4.30pm.
A painting by noted Australian artist Grace Cossington Smith, The Yellow Chest of Drawers, was also recently left as a generous bequest to the University, and now hangs in the Library foyer for students, staff, alumni and the community to enjoy.
The artwork was gifted by Audrey Horn, wife of the late Dr Robert Horn, who worked at CSIRO based at Macquarie for many years. They have three sons, Stephen, Mark and Nick, who attended the unveiling of the artwork on campus.
This painting is the first by Grace Cossington Smith to be included in the University collection.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Corporate Engagement and Advancement) Professor David Wilkinson says that the University is enormously grateful for the generous support that alumni and friends are increasingly showing through bequests.
“Significant artworks add value and depth to our existing Australian collection and provide opportunities for our students and teachers to further their research and knowledge,” explains Professor Wilkinson. “Visitors too from our local community can also enjoy viewing this piece, given its accessible public display here in the foyer of the library.”
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