Study of an Ash Tree in Winter

James Hey Davies 1844 - 1930

Summary

A detailed study of an ash tree in winter, against background of meadow with sheep in the distance against the trees. The bare tree stands under a grey sky. James Hey Davies studied at the Manchester School of Art under W. J. Muckley. He went onto the Royal Academy Schools where he won the Turner gold medal for a painting 'Under the opening eyelids of the morn'. He exhibited first at the RMI in 1872 and in 1873 he was made an associate of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts. A year later he became a full member. This painting was originally framed together with its companion piece 'Study of an Ash Tree in Summer' when it was exhibited at Queen's Park Art Gallery in the 1880s. Ash was probably cultivated by early farmers who used it for making axe handles and it continued to have many uses throughout the nineteenth century including coach and railway carriage building. Due to the high demand most hedgerow ash trees were pollarded. The tree studied here by Davies was thus relatively unusual and was probably a tree self-sown in hedge subsequently cleared to make way for pasture.

Display Label

Gallery 6: Climate Justice We have chosen to call this gallery Climate Justice because tackling climate change involves tackling social injustice. Those who do the least damage are being harmed the most. Those who hold the power and wealth are responsible for global warming. They have the least reason to change. Joining the dots between climate change, colonialism and capitalism can help us to understand the structural changes needed. Art collections are often displayed to reflect the stories of the powerful. This is unjust. We need a more democratic approach to history, because we need radical change. Manchester gets much credit for its ‘radical’ history, the industrial revolution and the cotton trade. Taking pride in our city’s history must come with the acknowledgement of the damage caused by industrialisation and its links to colonialism. The gallery can be a starting point for reviewing this history. Over time, we will use the gallery and collection to encourage collective learning and action on climate justice through: Learning from history Activating a different future Scrutiny of policy makers Collective working and care The injustices of climate change highlighted within this gallery do not end when you leave this space. You'll find them throughout the art gallery, all over the city and beyond. The Manchester Art Gallery Climate Justice Group started meeting online in July 2020. We are gallery staff, artists and activists based in Manchester: Rabia Begum: Artist, activist and member of Manchester Climate Change Youth Board Janet Boston: Curator: Craft and Design, Manchester Art Gallery Kooj Chuhan: Digital artist, filmmaker, activist and director of Crossing Footprints Ana Lucia Cuevas: Artist and filmmaker Clare Gannaway: Curator: Contemporary Art, Manchester Art Gallery Jackie Haynes: Artist, art practice-based researcher. Bev Hogg: Collections and Assets Assistant, Manchester Art Gallery Jane Lawson: Artist and activist Adam Peirce: Core member of Climate Emergency Manchester Hannah Williamson: Curator: Fine Art, Manchester Art Gallery Emmanuela Yogolelo: Singer-songwriter, storyteller, music facilitator, cultural leader and producer Our labels include the parts per million (PPM) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the year each artwork was made. The “safe level” of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been assessed as 350ppm; we passed this level in 1987.