Sidney Colvin MA DLitt (1845 - 1927)

Born 18 Jun 1845 in Norwood, Surrey, England

Ancestors

Husband of Frances Jane (Fetherstonhaugh) Colvin — married 3 Jul 1903 in Marylebone, London, England

Died 11 May 1927 at age 81 in London, England

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Sidney Colvin MA DLitt is Notable.

Sidney Colvin MA DLitt was born in Norwood, Surrey, England.

Biography

Life events

Sidney Colvin was born in Norwood, Surrey, in 1845, the son of Bazett David Colvin and Mary Steuart Bayley.^[1][2][3]

On the 3rd July 1903, he married Frances "Fannie" Jane Fetherstonhaugh, daughter of Cuthbert Fetherstonhaugh, Esq., J.P., of of Dardistown, county Westmeath. The marriage was solemnized in St Marylebone, London.^[4][5][6]

Sir Sidney Colvin's wife, Lady Colvin, died in Kensington in 1924, aged eighty-five years.^[7]

Sir Sidney Colvin, M.A., D.Litt., died in London on the 11th May 1927, aged eighty-one years.^[8][9][10]

Career notes

Extract from Alumni Cantabrigienses (1944):

COLVIN, SIDNEY. Adm. pens. at Trinity, Nov. 24, 1862. 3rd s. of Bazett David, of Little Bealings, Woodbridge, Suffolk. B. June 18, 1845, at Norwood, Surrey. Matric. Michs. 1863; Chancellor’s Medal (English) 1865; Scholar, 1866; B.A. (3rd Classic) 1867; M.A. 1870. Fellow, 1868. Slade Professor of Fine Art, 1873-85. Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, 1876-84. Adm. at Lincoln’s Inn, Nov. 23, 1866. Hon. D.Litt. (Oxford). LL.D. (St Andrews). Keeper of the Prints and Drawings, British Museum, 1884–1912; reorganised the department on modern lines. Excelled in the arrangement of exhibitions. Made a special feature of the guides to these exhibitions—particularly the Rembrandt Catalogue for the study of the master’s work, which was placed in chronological order for the first time. Knighted, 1912. A friend of Robert Louis Stevenson. Edited his Works and Letters. Edited the Letters of Keats and the literary remains of Finiguerra’s Chronicle; also the collections of drawings by Old Masters at Oxford. Author, A life of Keats (English Men of Letters Series); Memories and Notes; numerous official Catalogues, etc. Died May 11, 1927, aged 81, at 35, Palace Gardens Terrace, W. 8. Brother of Bazett D. (1860). (The Times, May 12, 1927.)^[11] (pg 107.)

Census enumerations

1851 census enumeration (England):

• Bazett David Colvin, head, married, age 45; Magistrate, Landed Proprietor, East India Merchant London; born at Calcutta, East Indies
• Mary Steuart, wife, married, age 30; born at do.
• William Butterworth, son, age 10, scholar at home; born at London, Middlesex
• Bazett David, son, age 8, do.; born at St Luke’s, Norwood, Surrey
• Sidney, son, age 5, do., …
• household servants (10), including a governess
• census place: Grove, Little Bealings, Suffolk.^[12]

… and in 1861:

• Bazet [sic] David Colvin, head, married, age 55; Magistrate & East India Agent; born in East Indies
• Mary S., wife, married, age 40, born in do.
• Bazet D., son, unmarried, age 18; UnderGraduate Trin College Cambridge; born in Norwood, Surrey
• Sidney, son, unmarried, age 15, Scholar; born at do.
• Clement S., nephew, unmarried, age 17, Scholar; born at Paddington, Middlesex
• household servants (9)
• census place: The Grove, Little Bealings, Suffolk.^[13]

… and in 1871:

• Mary S Colvin, wife, married, age 50, Merchant’s wife; born in Calcutta, E. Indies
• Sidney, son, unmarried, age 25; M.A. Fellow Trin Coll Cambridge; born at Norwood, Surrey
• Fannie J Sitwell, visitor, married, age 32, Clergyman’s Wife; born in Westmeath, Ireland
• Annie L. Reed, visitor, unmarried, age 13, Scholar; born at Sydenham, Kent
• household servants (6)
• census place: Westwood Cottage, West Hill, Lewisham, Kent.^[14]

When the 1891 census was enumerated, Sidney was recorded, maintaining a household in the Officers’ Residence, British Museum, in E. Russell Street, St George Bloomsbury, London; age 45, single; Civil Service, Keeper of Prints and Drawings, British Museum; born in Norwood, Surrey. The 1901 census recorded him similarly.^[15]

1911 census:

• Sidney Colvin, head, age 65, married; Keeper of Prints and Drawings, British Museum; born at Norwood, Surrey
• Frances, wife, age 72, married 7 years, no children; born at Curriagh West Meath Resident
• household servants (3)
• census place: British Museum, WC [London].^[16]

News extracts

Obituary

Obituary published in The Times, 12 May 1927 (Issue 44579, pg. 16, col. C):

Obituary.

SIR SIDNEY COLVIN.

ART CRITIC AND FRIEND OF STEVENSON.

We regret to announce that Sir Sidney Colvin, the art and literary critic and friend of Robert Louis Stevenson, died at his house in London last night at the age of 81.

Sidney Colvin came of a family which for many years had been intimately connected with India. His father, Bazett David Colvin, was a partner in the firm of Crawford, Colvin, and Co., East India agents, of Calcutta, and Old Broad-street, London, and his mother was Mary Steuart, daughter of William Butterworth Bayley. On both sides of the family there were many distinguished positions in the East. Colvin was born at Norwood on June 18, 1845, but his childhood was spent at The Grove, Little Bealings, Suffolk, where his father lived for many years. He was privately educated at home by a private tutor, who made him a good classical scholar. He entered at Trinity College, in 1863; in 1865 he obtained the Chancellor's gold medal for an English poem on Florence. Colvin was third in the first-class of the Classical Tripos of 1867, when the Senior Classic was John Edwin Sandys, afterwards Public Orator, and the second was Sir Frederick Pollock. A scholarship (1867) and a fellowship (1868) at Trinity served to fix him at Cambridge.

From about this date he began to contribute regularly to the 'Pall Mall Gazette' (then under Greenwood), the Fortnightly Review, the Portfolio, the Cornhill, and the Edinburgh. His articles were chiefly on the history and criticism of the fine arts; a selection of them was privately printed in 1873, when he was a candidate for the Slade Professorship at Cambridge. Colvin's first appearance as the author of a single work was rather curious; it was entitled "A Word for Germany, from the English Republican," being a letter to Professor Beesly, and was published at 1d., by E. Truelove, in 1870. Beesly had attacked Germany for its treatment of Republican France, and Colvin, though at that time professing strong Republican principles, had advocated English intervention on behalf of Prussia. But this was Colvin's sole adventure away from the paths of literature and art. He contributed essays to J. B. Atkinson's "English Painters" (1871) and "English Artists" (1872), and published an excellent little book on "Children in Italian and English Design" (1872).

In January, 1873, he was elected Slade Professor of Fine Art at Cambridge; he was re-elected four times, and from 1876 to 1884 was also Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum. His lectures were prepared with great care, and he introduced a system by which facsimiles and illustrations of the subjects of his discourses could be acquired by his hearers. His enthusiasms and the thoroughness which characterized everything that he did made him an inspiring teacher, especially to the young men with whom his lectures brought him into contact.

Apart from his appointment to the Professorship, the year 1873 was a memorable one in Colvin's life, for in it he first made the acquaintance of Robert Louis Stevenson, with whom his name was destined always to be connected. Stevenson, then 23, and Colvin first met at Cockfield Rectory, Suffolk, on a visit to Mrs. Churchill Babington, a cousin of Colvin's. Mrs. Sitwell, who later became Colvin's wife, was of the party, and for the next two years she was Stevenson's "inspirer, consoler, and guide." By birth a Fetherstonhaugh, she was remarkable for both beauty and intelligence; she had made an unhappy marriage with a clergyman named Sitwell. The friendship between Colvin and Stevenson lasted until the death of the latter in 1894; its history is told in the Vailima Letters and the volumes of Stevenson's correspondence which were published by Colvin in 1895, 1899 and 1911. How much the younger man felt and valued his older friend's care and advice found expression in the poem "To ——," which appeared in the "Songs of Travel," published after his death. In a letter of April, 1886, Stevenson wrote of this poem that it was "a little too intimate as between you and me. I would not say less of you, my friend, but I scarce care to say so much in public while we live." The poem ends:—

For thee, for us, the sacred river waits,

For me, the unworthy, thee, the perfect friend.

* * * *

So when, beside that margin, I discard

My more then mental weakness, and with thee

Through that still land unfearing I advance;

If then at all we keep the touch of joy

Thou shalt rejoice to find me unaltered—I,

O Felix, to behold the still unchanged.

In 1884 Colvin was appointed Keeper of the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. This involved his severing his connexion with the Fitzwilliam Museum, though he continued to hold the Slade Professorship until 1885. During his later years at Cambridge he had published an essay on Flaxman's life and genius and a life of Landor, followed by a selection from Landor's works. Colvin's studies and experience at Cambridge proved of great value to his work as Keeper of the National Collection of Prints and Drawings. He reorganized the arrangement on more modern lines, undertook a critical revision of the drawings, and had the majority of them remounted on a system which has since been imitated in all the leading collection on the Continent. His relations with collectors and influential persons, whom he advised and guided in their studies, and his all-round knowledge of history, literature and scholarship were invaluable to the Museum. During his Keepership there were acquired by purchase the Malcolm collection of drawings and prints, the Reeve collection of drawings and etchings of the Norwich School, the finest collection of existing drawings by Lucas van Leyden, a remarkable series of drawings by Tintoretto, a fine collection of Japanese woodcuts and drawing, and many other accessions generally chosen with fine taste and judgment and bought for the most part at prices which have prevailed since 1910. The most notable gifts and bequests to his Department were the Mitchell German woodcuts, the Cheylesmore mezzotints, and the Salting engravings and drawings. An important branch of his work was the arrangement of exhibitions, admirably chosen and catalogued, in the gallery of the department. The guides to these exhibitions were excellent; the Rembrandt catalogue especially is a document of great importance for the study of the master's work, which had never before been placed in chronological order. Towards the end of his Museum career he took a great interest in Japanese art, just before the great rise in prices which would have made it impossible for the Museum to compete with collectors of Japanese drawings and woodcuts. Colvin remained at the British Museum until 1912, and was knighted on his retirement.

During his life in London, his literary activities had been mainly devoted to editing Stevenson's works, especially the "Edinburgh" edition, and the collections of letters. He contributed a life of Keats to Morley's "English Men of Letters" series, and edited the letters of Keats and the literary remains of Professor Fleeming Jenkin; he also edited Finiguerra's Chronicle, the collection of drawings by old masters at Oxford, and published a work on early engraving and engravers in England, besides numerous official catalogues. After his retirement he resumed his study of Keats; the result appeared in his "Life of Keats" which was published in 1918. It was followed in 1921 by a volume of "Memories and Notes," a work of much interest for its appreciations of the many distinguished figures in art and literature with whom he had been acquainted. He had honorary degrees from Oxford and St. Andrews and was a member of many learned and artistic societies and institutions.

Colvin had the virtues and the limitations of the academic mind, and his books are cultivated, careful, and thorough rather than inspiring. His most attractive quality was his loyal constancy to his friends, whom he was never tired of helping and encouraging. The most famous of them was Stevenson, to whom, when poor and unknown, he rendered invaluable service; and if later on it became rather foible of Colvin's to discover young and unappreciated talent, it was at a generous and kindly foible.

Colvin's marriage in 1903 to Mrs. Sitwell was extremely happy, and her death in August, 1924, was felt deeply by the many people who appreciated her social charm and her gift of enjoying and diffusing happiness.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. “Colvin, Sir Sidney.” pub. by Oxford University Press; accessible online at www.oxforddnb.com (by subscription, only; opening paragraph accessed 2018-06-30).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The Times, 12 May 1927 (Issue 44579, pg. 16, col. C). “Obituary. Sir Sidney Colvin. Art Critic and Friend of Stevenson.” Transcript online in Wikisource, en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Times/1927/Obituary/Sidney_Colvin (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-06-30).
3. ↑ Index of civil registrations of births, England. Male Colvin, 3rd quarter ending 30th September 1845, Lambeth RD (Surrey), vol. 4, pg 285. Index and digital image online at FreeBMD, www.freebmd.org.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-08-31).
4. ↑ Thanet Advertiser, 30 May 1903 (pg 5). Wedding announcement: “FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE.—A marriage is arranged, and will take place in July, between Mr. Sidney Colvin, of the British Museum, and Frances, fourth daughter of the late Cuthbert Fetherstonhaugh, of Darliestown [Dardistown], West Meath, and Correagh, Hamilton, Victoria, and widow of the late Rev. Albert Hurt Sitwell, Vicar of Minster.” Digital image online at The British Newspaper Archive, britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (accessed by subscription, and transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-08-09).
5. ↑ Church of England. Parish of St Marylebone, London. Marriage of Sidney Colvin, of full age, bachelor; Keeper of Prints & Drawings at The British Museum; residence: British Museum, Bloomsbury; son of Bazett David Colvin, Merchant; and Frances Sitwell, of age, Widow; resident of 10 Oxford & Cambridge Mansions, St Marylebone; daughter of Cuthbert Fetherstonhaugh, Esquire, J.P.; married 7th July 1903 in the parish church of St Marylebone according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, by Licence, by W.P. Ripon; witnesses: Maud Wright, Basil Champ[—]s. Original record: London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: p89/mry1/270. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick by subscription, 2018-08-09).
6. ↑ Index of civil registrations of marriages, England. Sidney Colvin and Frances Sitwell, 3rd quarter ending 30th September 1903, Marylebone RD (London), vol. 1a, pg. 1254. Original record: General Register Office, England and Wales, Southport, Hants. Index and digital image online at FreeBMD, wwwfreebmd.org.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-08-09).
7. ↑ Western Morning News, 4 August 1924 (pg 4). “Death of Lady Colvin.” Digital image online at The British Newspaper Archive, britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (accessed by subscription, and transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-08-09).
8. ↑ The Scotsman, 13 May 1927 (pg 8). Obituary: “Sir Sidney Colvin. Death in London. Friend of Stevenson.” Digital image online at The British Newspaper Archive, britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-06-28, by subscription).
9. ↑ National Probate Calendar, England and Wales. “COLVIN, sir Sidney (knight), of 35 Palace-gardens-terrace, Kensington, Middlesex; died 11 May 1927; Probate: London, 2 July [1927] to sir Robert Clermont, knight, Edward Verrall Lucas, publisher, and Lawrence Binyon, civil servant.” (ref. 1927, pg 696). Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-08-09, by subscription).
10. ↑ Index of civil registrations of deaths, England. Sidney Colvin, aged 81 years, 2nd quarter ending 30th June 1927, Kensington RD (London), vol. 1a, pg. 123. Original record: General Register Office, England and Wales, Southport, Hants. Index and digital image online at FreeBMD, wwwfreebmd.org.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-08-09).
11. ↑ Venn, John, and J.A. Venn, eds. Alumni Cantabrigienses: A Biographical List of All Known Students, Graduates and Holders of Office at the University of Cambridge, From the Earliest Times to 1900. Vol. 2: From 1752 to 1900. Part 2: Chalmers–Fytche. “Colvin, Sidney.” (pg 107.) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1944.
12. ↑ England 1851 Census. Bazett David Colvin, age 45, with wife, Mary Steuart (age 30), and sons, William Butterworth, Bazett David, and Sidney; in Little Bealings, Suffolk. Original record: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851 (Kew, Surrey: The National Archives of the UK); PRO ref. HO107, piece 1801, folio 163, pg. 1, household schedule no. 1, enumeration district no. 10, registration district: Woodbridge, sub-registration district: Carlford. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-08-08, by subscription).
13. ↑ England 1861 Census. Bazett David Colvin, age 55, with wife, Mary S. (40), and sons, Bazett D. (18) and Sidney (15); Little Bealings, Suffolk. Original record: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861; PRO ref. RG9, piece 1167, folio 118, pg. 10, household schedule no. 54; Woodbridge registration district, Carlford sub-registration district, enumeration district no. 11. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-08-08, by subscription).
14. ↑ England 1871 Census. Mary S Colvin, age 50, married; with son, Sidney (25), M.A., and visitors, Fannie J Sitwell, clergyman’s wife (32), and Annie L. Reed (13) of Sydenham, Kent; in Westwood Cottage, West Hill, Lewisham. Original records: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871 (Kew, Richmond, Surrey: National Archives of the UK, 1871); PRO ref. RG10, piece 768, folio 49, page 23, household schedule no. 107, registration district: Lewisham, subdistrict: Sydenham, enumeration district 2. Digital images of PRO record online at ancestry.ca (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-08-09, by subscription).
15. ↑ England 1891 Census. Sidney Colvin, head, single, age 55, Keeper of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, born at Norwood, Surrey; living in one of the Officers’ Residences of the British Museum, in St Giles and St George Bloomsbury, London. Original record: Census Returns for England & Wales, 1891 (Kew, Surrey: National Archives of the UK, 1891), PRO ref. RG 12, piece 236, folio 141, registration district: St Giles, subregistration district: Bloomsbury and St Giles, South; ecclesiastical parish of St George Bloomsbury; enumeration district no. 7, pg. 37, household schedule 149. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-08-09, by subscription).
16. ↑ England 1911 Census. Sidney Colvin, age 65, with wife, Frances [née Fetherstonhaugh orse Sitwell], age 72, at the British Museum, WC. Original record: Census Returns for England & Wales, 1911 (Kew, Surrey: National Archives of the UK, 1911), PRO ref. RG 14, piece 1173, registration district St Giles, subregistration district: St Giles and Bloomsbury, enumeration district no. 4. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-08-09, by subscription).

Links

• Wikipedia: Sidney Colvin