I first became aware of Lucy Wertheim because of a Facebook post describing her donations of paintings to the Astley Cheetham Gallery in Stalybridge. Posted by Tameside Libraries it read:
On #internationalwomensday here's a look at the influential art collector Lucy Carrington Wertheim (1883-1971) who helped shape many public art collections during the twentieth century, including the Astley Cheetham Art Gallery in Stalybridge.
Wertheim ran several galleries across the country during the 1920s and 30s and championed modern artists such as Henry Moore, Cedric Morris and Feliks Topolski.
In 1935 she donated several paintings to the Astley Cheetham Art Gallery, including the works - Llangennith Church by Cedric Morris, Littlehampton Front by Philip Padwick, and The Mother by Paul Soyer.
So who was Lucy Carrington Wertheim? She was born Lucy Carrington Pearson on 4 April 1883, daughter of William Henry Pearson and Annie Dearden. Her father, William was a cotton yarn agent born in Pendleton, Lancashire. He was a respected botanist. Whilst living in Eccles, Greater Manchester, William became a friend of Benjamin Carrington and studied botany in some of the classes taught by Carrington. William and his wife Annie had four daughters: Lucy Carrington Pearson (presumably her middle name came from Benjamin Carrington) , Phyliis Marian, Hilda Hewetson and Annie Theodora.
In the 1891 census Lucy was eight, the eldest of three daughters. The family were living at The Polygon, Barton upon Irwell.
By 1901 William Henry Pearson had moved his family to Legh Road in leafy Knutsford, Cheshire. Lucy's sisters Hilda (13) and Annie (8) were still living at home but Lucy is missing from the household.
In 1906 Lucy Carrington Pearson married Mari Paul Johan Wertheim in Chorlton Manchester. Paul, as he was usually known, was a Dutch citizen working as a manager of a merchant office, shipping trade.
He later became the Consul for the Netherlands in Manchester and was awarded Knight of the Order of Oranje Nassau.
In the 1911 census Lucy Wertheim (32) was away from home, visiting a farmer Ben Wear and his wife in Loughrigg in the Lake District. Paul aged 32 was at home in a large house (13 rooms) at 37 Palatine Road, Withington, Manchester. Lucy's 18 year old sister, (Annie) Theodora was at the same address. Lucy's parents and two of her siblings, Phyllis (25) and Hilda (23) were also living on Palatine Road at number 18, in a similar sized house..
Paul Wertheim was naturalised as a British citizen in May 1915 and was baptised on 21 June 1915 at Burnage St Margaret in Manchester.
By 1921 Paul and Lucy were living at 82 Palatine Road. Paul was 42 and employed as a shipping agent for the company P. Wertheim Ltd. (probably his own company). Lucy was 38 and a housewife. They had two children by then: Hilary Grace Wertheim born 1915 in Gatley Cheshire and Robert Hugh born 1917 in West Didsbury. The family had three servants.
In the 1939 register Lucy C Wertheim was living at 1 St Mark's Square, St Pancras, London. She was the Director of an Art Gallery. In the same household was Lancelot D Rust born 18 Jul 1882, an artist. Paul meanwhile was still living at 82 Palatine Road, Withington,. His adult children: Hilary aged 24 working as an actress and Robert Hugh aged 22, assistant manager at a biscuit factory were in the same household. Paul was Consul for the Netherlands and a Company Director.
Lucy, together with Paul, ran galleries in Derbyshire, London, and Brighton and was known for encouraging many young artists and sculptors. In the 1920s she bought many works by Henry Moore and encouraged Cedric Morris.
In 1930 she opened her first gallery at 3-5 Burlington Gardens, London. It may have been the artist Frances Hodgkins who finally persuaded Lucy Wertheim to move from enthusiastic supporter of 'modern art' to a fully fledged gallery owner. In her 1947 book 'Adventure in Art' - Lucy recalls the incident "Frances exclaimed to my husband, 'Your wife should open a gallery for us poor artists: her enthusiasm would make it a success!'...Those words however spoken more than half in jest, sowed a seed in my mind that was to bear fruit later."
In the early 1960s she lent works to decorate the then new and radical Sussex University at Falmer near Brighton.
.Paul Wertheim died suddenly at his home at 2 Lyme Park in Chinley Derbyshire on 31 March 1952.
Lucy Carrington Wertheim died on 13 December 1971 at Kensington Gardens, Brighton Sussex.
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