James & Diana Ramsay’s visionary legacy of art
gifted to the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA)
This is of one of this country’s most generous cultural gifts:
a $38 million bequest towards the development of the collection
of AGSA bestowed by James Stewart Ramsay AO (1923–1996)
and Diana Ramsay AO (1926–2017)
The Ramsay’s long and fruitful relationship with the Gallery since 1969
James and Diana Ramsay have assisted the Gallery in multiple ways,
particularly in acquiring or donating more than 80 works of art for the collection
HIGHLIGHTS OF MAJOR RAMSAY DONATIONS
OLD MASTERS
Esaias Van De Velde
A landscape with travellers crossing a bridge before a small dwelling, horsemen in the foreground , 1622
Esaias Van De Velde, The Netherlands, 1587 – 1630, “A landscape with travellers crossing a bridge before a small dwelling, horsemen in the foreground”, 1622, The Hague, The Netherlands, oil on panel, 28.4 x 33.7 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund 2008, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Peeter Neeffs The Elder and Frans Francken II
A church interior with elegant figures strolling and figures attending mass, c.1630s
Peeter Neeffs The Elder, Flanders, c. 1578 – 1656/1661, Frans Francken II, Flanders, 1581 – 1642, “A church interior with elegant figures strolling and figures attending mass”, c.1630s, Antwerp, oil on wood panel, 50.5 x 66.0 cm (comp.); Gift of the James and Diana Ramsay Foundation through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2010, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Jacob Van Ruisdael
Landscape with a mill-run and ruins, c.1653
Jacob Van Ruisdael, The Netherlands, 1628/29 – 1682, “Landscape with a mill-run and ruins”, c.1653, Haarlem, oil on canvas, 59.3 x 66.1 cm; Gift of James & Diana Ramsay and the James & Diana Ramsay Fund through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 1985, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Saul Steed.
DETAIL OF LANDSCAPE WITH A MILL-RUN AND RUINS
Angelica Kauffmann
Diana and her nymphs bathing, c.1778-82
Angelica Kauffmann, Switzerland/Britain/Italy, 1741 – 1807, “Diana and her nymphs bathing”, c.1778-82, London or Rome, oil on canvas, 66.0 x 66.5 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2007, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
DETAIL OF “DIANA AND HER NYMPHS BATTHING”
Edwaert Collier
Letter rack, c.1698
Edwaert Collier, The Netherlands/Britain, 1640 – 1710?, “Letter rack”, c.1698, London, oil on canvas, 48.5 x 61.5 cm; Gift of James & Diana Ramsay and the James & Diana Ramsay Fund through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 1991, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
DETAIL OF “LETTER RACK”
Joseph Wright Of Derby
A view of Vesuvius from Posillipo, Naples, c.1788-90
Joseph Wright Of Derby, Britain, 1734 – 1797, “A view of Vesuvius from Posillipo”, Naples, c.1788-90, Derby, England, oil on canvas, 54.0 x 77.5 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund 2008, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Saul Steed.
MODERN MASTERS
Camille Pissarro
Prairie à Éragny, 1886
Camille Pissarro, France, 1830 – 1903, “Prairie à Éragny”, 1886, Éragny, France, oil on canvas, 59.4 x 73.0 cm; Gift of the Gwinnett Family, James and Diana Ramsay Foundation, Roy and Marjory Edwards Bequest Fund, Margaret Olley Art Trust, Helen Bowden, Frank and Mary Choate, Peter and Pamela McKee, Emeritus Professor Anne Edwards AO, David and Pam McKee, and Members through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation Masterwork Appeal 2014. Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
DETAIL OF “PRAIRIE À ÈRAGNY”
Hugh Ramsay
Self portrait – head with white collar, 1904
Hugh Ramsay, Australia, 25/05/1877 – 5/03/1906, “Self portrait – head with white collar, 1904”, Barnawartha, Victoria, oil on canvas, 45.0 x 35.0 cm; Gift of Diana Ramsay AO through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2011, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Saul Steed.
Hugh Ramsay
At last, 1896
Hugh Ramsay, Australia, 25/05/1877 – 5/03/1906, “At last”, 1896, Melbourne, oil on canvas, 97.0 x 122.8 cm; Gift of James & Diana Ramsay 1991, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Saul Steed.
DETAILS OF “AT LAST”
Hugh Ramsay
Head of old man (study), 1901
Hugh Ramsay, Australia, 25/05/1877 – 5/03/1906, “Head of old man (study)”, 1901, Paris, oil on canvas, 50.0 x 40.0 cm (frame); Gift of Diana Ramsay AO through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2011, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Stewart Adams.
Hugh Ramsay
Amy Lambert, 1901
Hugh Ramsay, Australia, 25/05/1877 – 5/03/1906, “Amy Lambert”, 1901, Paris, oil on canvas, 38.0 x 46.5 cm; Gift of James & Diana Ramsay 1991, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Hugh Ramsay
The artist’s studio, c.1901
Hugh Ramsay, Australia, 25/05/1877 – 5/03/1906, “The artist’s studio”, c.1901, Paris, oil on canvas, 60.8 x 50.2 cm; Gift of James Ramsay 1980, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Hugh Ramsay
The four seasons, c.1902
Hugh Ramsay, Australia, 25/05/1877 – 5/03/1906, “The four seasons”, c.1902, possibly Melbourne or London, oil on panel, 96.3 x 20.8 cm (a-d); Gift of Diana Ramsay AO through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2011, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Napier Waller
The Pastoral Pursuits of Australia, 1927
Napier Waller, Australia, 1893 – 1972, “The Pastoral Pursuits of Australia”, 1927, Melbourne, oil on canvas, 160.0 x 430.0 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund 1987, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Courtesy of the Trustees of the Waller Estate.
Napier Waller
The Pastoral Pursuits of Australia, 1927
Napier Waller, Australia, 1893 – 1972, “The Pastoral Pursuits of Australia”, 1927, Melbourne, oil on canvas, 160.0 x 440.0 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund 1987, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Courtesy of the Trustees of the Waller Estate.
Napier Waller
The Pastoral Pursuits of Australia, 1927
Napier Waller, Australia, 1893 – 1972, “The Pastoral Pursuits of Australia”, 1927, Melbourne, oil on canvas, 160.0 x 155.5 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund 1987, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Courtesy of the Trustees of the Waller Estate.
Napier Waller
The Pastoral Pursuits of Australia, 1927
Napier Waller, Australia, 1893 – 1972, “The Pastoral Pursuits of Australia”, 1927, Melbourne, oil on canvas, 160.0 x 216.0 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund 1987, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Courtesy of the Trustees of the Waller Estate.
Napier Waller
The Pastoral Pursuits of Australia, 1927
Napier Waller, Australia, 1893 – 1972, “The Pastoral Pursuits of Australia”, 1927, Melbourne, oil on canvas, 160.0 x 216.0 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund 1987, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Courtesy of the Trustees of the Waller Estate.
Bertram Mackennal
Madonna, c.1905-06
Bertram Mackennal, Australia/Britain, 1863 – 1931, “Madonna”, c.1905-06, Paris, bronze, 25.5 cm (height); Gift of Diana Ramsay AO and the late James Ramsay AO 1999, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Maurice Lambert
The golden pheasant, 1932
Maurice Lambert, Britain, 1901 – 1964, “The golden pheasant”, 1932, London, bronze on marble base, 50.0 x 83.0 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund 2000, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Thea Proctor
Bonnets, shawls, elegant parasols, 1938?
Thea Proctor, Australia, 1879 – 1966, “Bonnets, shawls, elegant parasols”, 1938?, linocut on paper, 28.0 x 24.3 cm (plate); James & Diana Ramsay Fund 1983, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Asian Art
JAPAN
The two accomplishments, c.1665
Japan, “The two accomplishments”, c.1665, Japan, two-panel screen, paper, pigment, ink and gold leaf, silk, supplementary weft weave, wood, 93.0 x 104.0 cm; Gift of Diana Ramsay AO through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2012, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
DETAIL OF THE TWO ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Shigemasa Kitao
Girls picking mulberry leaves, The cultivation of the silkworm, 1776
Shigemasa Kitao, Japan, 1739 – 1820, “Girls picking mulberry leaves, The cultivation of the silkworm” (Kaiko Yashimai gusa), 1776, woodblock print, ink and colour on paper, 23.5 x 18.0 cm (sight); Gift of Diana Ramsay AO 2003, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Kunisada Utagawa II
Actors Seki Sanjûrô and Nakamura Utaemon, c.1812
Kunisada Utagawa II Japan, 1823 – 1880, “Actors Seki Sanjûrô and Nakamura Utaemon”, Color Prints of the Dressing Room, Second Edition, a set of ten (Gakuya nishiki-e, nihen, jûmai no uchi), c.1812, Japan, woodblock print, ink and colour on paper, 35.2 x 23.5 cm (sight); Gift of Diana Ramsay AO 2003, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Hiroshige Utagawa
The Tôka-Ebisu Festival at the Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, 1834
Hiroshige Utagawa I, Japan, 1797 – 1858, “The Tôka-Ebisu Festival at the Imamiya Ebisu Shrine” (Imamiya Tôka Ebisu), Famous Views of Osaka (Naniwa meisho zue), 1834, Edo (Tokyo), woodblock print, ink and colour on paper, 22.7 x 35.2 cm (image); Gift of A.M. Ramsay 1965, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Hokusai Katsushika
The Kintai Bridge in Suô Province, c.1934
Hokusai Katsushika, Japan, 1760 – 1849, “The Kintai Bridge in Suô Province” (Suô no kuni Kintaibashi), Remarkable Views of Bridges in the various provinces (Shokoku meikyô kiran), c.1834, woodblock print, ink and colour on paper, 24.4 x 35.6 cm; Gift of James & Diana Ramsay 1976, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Okimono, Resting ox,, c.1850
Japan, Kyoto, Japan, “Okimono, Resting ox”,, c.1850, Kyoto, wood, 8.0 x 17.0 x 12.0 cm; Gift of Diana Ramsay AO through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2012, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Tray, negoro ware, c.1700
Japan, “Tray, negoro ware”, c.1700, Japan, lacquer on wood, 6.5 x 42.0 cm; Gift of James & Diana Ramsay 1972, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
INDIA
Bihar, The Boar incarnation of Vishnu (Varaha), c.9th century
India, Bihar, “The Boar incarnation of Vishnu” (Varaha), c.9th century, Bihar?, black stone, 55.0 x 34.0 cm; Gift of Ross Adler AO, Max Carter AO, David McKee, Belinda Morgan, Diana Ramsay AO and Judith Rischbieth through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation Collectors Club 2001, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Lady with a parrot, 9th -10th century
Unknown, India Chandella period (c 800-1315), “Lady with a parrot”, 9th -10th century, Madhya Pradesh, sandstone, 86.0 x 53.0 cm (irreg.); Gift of Brian Fricker, Anne Kidman, Justice John Mansfield, Pam McKee and Diana Ramsay AO through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation Collectors Club 2002, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Unspecified.
Celestial warrior, c.10th-11th century
India, Rajasthan Or Madhya Pradesh, “Celestial warrior”, c.10th-11th century, Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh, red sandstone, 45.0 x 49.0 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund 2000, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Architectural relief depicting two celestial female figures, 10th -11th century
India, Madhya Pradesh, “Architectural relief depicting two celestial female figures” (Surasundaris), 10th -11th century, Madhya Pradesh, India, sandstone, 102.0 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2005, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
CHINA
Ornament, in the form of Buddhist lion, c.1600
China, Ornament, in the form of Buddhist lion, c.1600, China, nephrite, 11.5 x 12.5 cm; Gift of Diana Ramsay AO through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2004, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Contemporary Artists
John Brack, 1963
Still-life with self-portrait
John Brack, Australia, 20/05/1920 – 11/02/1999, “Still-life with self-portrait”, 1963, Melbourne, oil on canvas, 149.2 x 78.6 cm; James & Diana Ramsay Fund 1999, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Courtesy Helen Brack.
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, 2018
The Black Watchful
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Britain, born 1977, “The Black Watchful”, 2018, London, oil on canvas, 200.0 x 150.0 cm; James and Diana Ramsay Fund 2019, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Saul Steed.
James and Diana, a couple in love with art
Platten Diana and James painting
James Ramsay AO’s love for the arts and medicine started early. He was the son of distinguished surgeon Sir John Ramsay and the nephew of the celebrated artist Hugh Ramsay. The Ramsay name is also closely associated with the famous boot polish company KIWI, which was founded by James’s uncle William Ramsay.
It was at the tender age of ten, when escorted through the Gallery by her father, that Diana Ramsay’s love of art was ignited, and it was a Nora Heysen painting titled Scabious, 1930, that she admired the most. In James, she found a fellow art lover and passionate advocate for culture. Together they have supported South Australia with great dedication and purpose – specifically through medical research, youth programs and the performing and visual arts.
They were inspired to do so by great benefactors before them
and hoped to inspire others to give in the future.
James and Diana had always admired the Felton Bequest to the National Gallery of Victoria (as part of the will of Alfred Felton in 1904) and what it had contributed to the arts. It encouraged James and Diana to support those organisations that had given them much joy during their life together. Diana often mentioned that they would have loved nothing more than to establish something similar to the Felton Bequest but believed such an entity was well beyond their reach. They joined the Friends of the Art Gallery of South Australia in 1969, and in 1981 they became founding members of the Art Gallery Foundation benefaction group. Their first donation of a work of art to the Art Gallery was in 1972 and their involvement with developing the collection and their love of the Gallery has continued ever since.
James and Diana’s donations have made a dramatic impact on the Gallery’s collections of Asian, European and Australian art. As the collection expands, their indispensable contribution to the Gallery’s development not only endures but grows in importance.
James and Diana Ramsay were both appointed as Officers of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1992 for their extraordinary philanthropy and service to the arts and the community.
Statements
Steven Marshall
South Australia’s 46th Premier
A personal friend of Diana Ramsay AO, has said, ‘James and Diana were dedicated to the future of South Australia and its culture. Such extraordinary and visionary acts of generosity rarely occur. They provide a catalyst for reputational, cultural and economic growth for generations to come, and inspire others to live generous lives.’
Rhana Devenport
AGSA Director
“The extent of the James and Diana Ramsay’s support of AGSA is breathtaking. Such legacies make an exceptional impact on collections and communities. The Gallery’s collection has been developed through the great generosity of individual South Australians over its 138 years. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and represents the most generous donation in the Gallery’s history. Previous major bequests have been the catalysts for major Gallery expansions such as the Melrose and Elder Wings. We look forward to future growth of the Gallery so that we can fully honour this outstanding gift for the enjoyment and benefit of all South Australians, our visitors, and future generations.”.
Kerry deLorme
Director of the James and Diana Ramsay Foundation
“Diana was well aware of the transformative impact of the Felton Bequest and now she and James have gifted a tremendous legacy that will ensure the excellence of AGSA’s collection for generations to come”.
Image: Rhana Devenport (left) and Kerry deLorme
Sarah Davies
CEO, Philanthropy Australia
“This is an exciting and significant announcement – as it is one of, if not the, largest cultural gift in Australia’s history. During their lives, James and Diana Ramsay were both active and generous givers and contributors to their communities and, in addition to that, Diana established the James and Diana Ramsay Foundation in 2008 to structure and set up her giving in perpetuity. And now, in addition, the entirety of James’s estate and part of Diana’s has been bequeathed to the Art Gallery of South Australia. The vision and foresight is absolutely inspiring. Over the next 20 years, it is estimated that Australia will see an intergenerational wealth transfer of $2.4 trillion as wealth is passed from one generation to another. Let’s hope this outstanding example of generosity and vision inspires others to do something similar and leave their legacies for future benefit”.
THE ART GALLERY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000 T +61 8 8207 7000
https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/