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March 3, 2026
Charles Oppenheimer (1875-1961), craftsman, artist
140th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH
THE EVE OF SAINT AGNES – RECENT ACQUISITION AT CENTRE FOR RESEARCH COLLECTIONS, EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Saturday 10 October 2015 marks the 140th anniversary of the birth of Charles Oppenheimer, craftsman and artist. Oppenheimer was born in Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Manchester, on 10 October 1875. He was a prize-winning student at Manchester School of Art, and his first picture was exhibited at the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts in 1894. His studies also took him to Italy.
After marriage in 1903, and after discovering – for him anyway – the acceptable light of Kirkcudbright he moved with his wife to Scotland in 1908 joining other artists in this community in south-western Scotland. By this time Oppenheimer had established himself, having exhibited his first picture at the Royal Academy, London, in 1906.
Other works over six decades include: The Lion of St. Mark, Venice, exhibited 1898, and illuminated manuscript of the poem by John Keats The Eve of St. Agnes (c. 1901), Kircudbright Harbour (c. 1910), Kirkcudbright (c. 1913), Verona (1914), Morning mist – Lake of Lugano (c. 1925), Siena at dusk (c. 1929), San Francesco, Assisi (1930s), and Blossom, Buckland Burn (c. 1940).
Recently, Edinburgh University Library acquired the illuminated handwritten manuscript crafted by Charles Oppenheimer of the poem The Eve of Saint Agnes, by John Keats. The bound volume is of thirteen pages of vellum – ‘a prodigious piece of work’ – and demonstrates Oppenheimer’s craftsmanship, skill and drawing. It is not known whether the item was a commission, an academic exercise or business sample.
Saint Agnes, from ‘The Eve of Saint Agnes’, Charles Oppenheimer, 1901
Saint Agnes’ Eve – Ah, bitter chill it was! The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold… stanza 1
The Eve of Saint Agnes was written by John Keats in 1819 and it was published in 1820, becoming one of his finest poems. Keats based his poem on the superstition that a girl could see her future husband in a dream if she performed certain rites on the eve of St. Agnes. In the 42-stanza poem we meet an old man of prayer (a beadsman), many an amarous cavalier, Madeline, old Angela, and Porphyro.
Carved angel, from ‘The Eve of Saint Agnes’, Charles Oppenheimer, 1901
The carved angels, ever eager-eyed, stared, where upon their heads the cornice rests… stanza 4
Young Porphyro, from ‘The Eve of Saint Agnes’, Charles Oppenheimer, 1901
Meantime, across the moors, had come young Porphyro, with heart on fire for Madeline… stanza 9
Full-blown rose, from ‘The Eve of Saint Agnes’, Charles Oppenheimer, 1901
Sudden a thought came like a full-blown rose, flushing his brow, and in his pained heart made purple riot… stanza 16
Legioned fairy, from ‘The Eve of Saint Agnes’, Charles Oppenheimer, 1901
While legioned fairies paced the coverlet, and pale enchantment held her sleepy-eyed… stanza 19
Out went the taper, from ‘The Eve of Saint Agnes’, Charles Oppenheimer, 1901
Out went the taper as she hurried in; its little smoke, in pallid moonshine died… stanza 23
Hollow lute, from ‘The Eve of Saint Agnes’, Charles Oppenheimer, 1901
Awakening up, he took her hollow lute – tumultuous – and, in chords that tenderest be, he played an ancient ditty… stanza 33
My Porphyro…ethereal, from ‘The Eve of Saint Agnes’, Charles Oppenheimer, 1901
At these voluptuous accents, he arose, ethereal, flushed, and like throbbing star… stanza 36
Down the dark stairs a darkling way they found, from ‘The Eve of Saint Agnes’, Charles Oppenheimer, 1901
They glide, like phantoms, into the wide hall; like phantoms, to the iron porch, they glide… stanza 41
Charles Oppenheimer exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, the Royal Scottish Academy, at the Royal Scottish Academy of Painters in Watercolours (RSW), at the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, the Aberdeen Artists’ Society, and in Liverpool. He designed a number of posters for Britain’s railways, depicting local beauty spots, and he also designed the badge and motto ‘Sempere Vigilo’ of the Scottish Police Force (now Police Scotland).
Charles Oppenheimer died in Kirkcudbright on 16 April 1961.
Detail at stanza 42, from ‘The Eve of Saint Agnes’, Charles Oppenheimer, 1901
Dr. Graeme D. Eddie, Assistant Librarian Archives & Manuscripts, Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Library
The following work was referred to in the creation of this blog-post:
Charles Oppenheimer. From craftsman to artist, by Euan Robson. Edinburgh: Atelier Books, 2012.
National Poetry Day : video clips / audio recordings of poets reading their own works from Literature Online!
Today, Thursday 8 October 2015, marks the 21st anniversary of National Poetry Day. Why not watch some video clips or listen to some audio recordings of modern and contemporary poets reading their own works as well as works of others through Literature Online that the University Library subscribes to.
Literature Online contains the following vast amount of poetry material, national and international, in text and multi-media formats:
- Poets On Screen [880 clips] — 880 video clips of poets reading their own and other poets works.
- Poetry Archive Audio [921 poems] — 921 links to poetry readings at The Poetry Archive, containing high quality historic audio recordings of poets reading their own works.
Literature Online also provides access to the full-text of 10,161 volumes of poetry by 2,820 authors:
- Anglo-Saxon Poetry, 600-1100 (7 volumes by 6 authors)
- Renaissance English Poetry, 1500-1660 (1748 volumes by 627 authors)
- Poetry of the American Colonial Period, 1607-1765 (37 volumes by 21 authors)
- Poetry of the Revolutionary and Early American Period, 1765-1830 (276 volumes by 69 authors)
- Poetry of the American Romantic and Realistic Periods, 1830-1900 (1239 volumes by 192 authors)
- American Poetry of the Modernist Period, 1899-1945 (347 volumes by 145 authors)
- Irish Poetry, 1582-present (562 volumes by 136 authors)
- Poetry from Scotland, 1376-present (710 volumes by 198 authors)
- Poetry from Wales, 1544-present (113 volumes by 32 authors)
- South African Poetry, 1834-present (26 volumes by 17 authors)
- Poetry from South Asia, 1828-present (25 volumes by 16 authors)
- Poetry from Australia and New Zealand, 1823-present (224 volumes by 79 authors)
- Canadian Poetry, ca.1610-present (744 volumes by 169 authors)
- Caribbean and West Indian Poetry, 1832-present (34 volumes by 18 authors)
- Major Anthologies of English Poetry (6 volumes)
Also reference works:
- Encyclopedia of American Poetry: The Nineteenth Century
- The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
Enjoy!
E-Resource Trial – Arkyves
Arkyves: A Reference tool for the History of Culture is a database, treasure trove and toolbox for those interested in the History of Culture. It is a single access point for thematic searches across a wide variety of cultural heritage collections, contributed by partners like the Dutch Rijksmuseum, the Netherlands Institute for Art History, the Herzog August Bibliothek, and the university libraries of Milan, Utrecht, Glasgow, and Illinois. Ordering and re-ordening motifs, themes, stories and iconographic details in kaleidoscopic fashion, Arkyves will make you find many things you did not realize you were looking for.
Access Arkyves on campus or off campus via the VPN until the 31st October. Click the login box at the top right of the Arkyves website to enter the database. This database has also been added to DiscoverEd for the duration of the trial.
Feedback and further info
We are interested to know what you think of this e-resource as your comments influence purchase decisions so please do fill out our feedback form.
A list of all trials currently available to University of Edinburgh staff and students can be found on our trials webpage.
Update: We have now subscribed to this resource
Concert to raise money for St Cecilia’s Hall Redevelopment
Bacchus is a pow’r divine…! is a fundraising concert starring Andrew Kennedy, Winner of the Song Prize in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World (2005), which promotes the University of Edinburgh’s £6.5m vision to restore, renovate & make accessible St Cecilia’s Hall, Scotland’s oldest concert hall, with its world famous collection of musical instruments.
Click HERE for tickets.
(VIDEO) Back to the Statistical Future
A few weeks ago, we took the Statistical Accounts to the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the Beltane network’s Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas. Board member Helen Aiton and EDINA’s Nicola Osborne wrote and presented ‘Back to the Statistical Future’, a delorian-powered tour that brought to light some uncanny parallels between the historical world of the accounts and contemporary Scotland. We posted about the show at the time, and we’re now pleased to be able to make this recording available.
We hope the video will give you a sense of the rich historical detail to be found in the accounts and prompt you to browse the service to find out more!
We’re keen to introduce as many audiences as possible to the unique resource that is the Statistical Accounts of Scotland: if you’d be interested in having us come along and talk at an event you are organising, please get in touch.
Jon Schueler
Jon Schueler
Magda Series, 9: June Light (o/c 117)
1970-1971
© Jon Schueler Estate
“When I speak of nature I am speaking of the sky. And when I think of the sky I think of the Scottish sky over Mallaig.”
The University Art Collection received a significant donation over the summer of two paintings by the American artist Jon Schueler. Born in Milwaukee, he studied at the California School of Fine Arts from 1949-51 and later moved to New York. The cultural significance and influence of New York in the 1950s is immense and whilst in the city, Schueler was introduced to figures such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko and was considered very much part of the New York School.
Schueler’s practice diverged somewhat from his peers after a formative visit to Scotland in 1957, specifically to Mallaig. The landscape and weather of the west coast of Scotland had a profound effect on Schueler and this influence can be seen throughout the works of the 1960s. Schueler returned to Mallaig in 1970, this time staying this time for 5 years. He subsequently visited Mallaig every year until his death in 1992.
Schueler is considered part of the American Abstract Expressionism movement, but his work is firmly rooted in nature. The works influenced by Scotland have a palpable sense of the west coast, its unpredictable weather and brooding skies.
In 1981, Schueler exhibited at the Talbot Rice Gallery for their Festival exhibition. In the show, the gallery was turned into a huge studio and visitors were able to watch the artist at work. Therefore, for the University and the history of exhibitions here, Jon Schueler is a particularly important artist. We are delighted to accept these paintings into the collection, as an artist of great importance with a link to Edinburgh is now represented in the collection.
As well as the University Art Collection, Schueler’s work is in the collections of the Whitney Museum in New York, the Cleveland Museum of Art, National Gallery of Australia and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
Jon Schueler
Light: Grey Sky and Sea (o/c 524)
1974
© Jon Schueler Estate
Roland Barthes centenary from the journal of French Studies
To celebrate 100 years since the birth of French author Roland Barthes, Oxford University Press has provided a collection of articles including book reviews from the journals French Studies and its sister publication French Studies Bulletin. As we subscribe to both publications, staff and students can access the full text of these articles with EASE login. Please visit http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/frestu/roland_barthes_centenary.html
Where’s Dolly? Another metadata game
The Towards Dolly project, showcasing research from genetics at the Roslin Institute, has helped surface lots of interesting material within the library, not least at the current exhibition. One of its outputs was the Science On A Plate subproject, a Wellcome-funded digitisation of 3,500 glass plate slides.
We’ve put these into our metadata games infrastructure, to allow social tagging of the slides, and- while they are well-described- improve their keywording to allow superior faceting in the LUNA application, making the collection more searchable. The game follows the same methodology as the Tag It! Find It! art game- tag ten images, and vote on ten, and build up a high score. It has the additional incentive though, of a hidden Dolly The Sheep image. The lucky user who comes across this image first will be lavishly rewarded (i.e. they will almost certainly get an L&UC calendar!)!!
The game was launched in time for a talk given by Gavin Willshaw, Clare Button and Claire Knowles at The Central Library– a great example of our Library engaging with the wider community- on Tuesday September 29, and will be featured again at Ada Lovelace Day on October 13. You don’t need to be at these events to play the game though- it’s there for you to have a go at any time you like, at librarylabs.ed.ac.uk. You’ll need to login via EASE.
Scott Renton- Digital Development
The Anatomy of a Background
In the studio, with a very limited access to backdrops and props, it can be difficult to enliven the more creative shots of objects. We are well set up now for standard record images against a neutral grey background and it is easy when you need to close in on the details of objects, however, these can start to look a bit ‘samey’ when you have lots of images to do for a project. This is the position I found myself in recently when working on the MIMED collection of musical instruments (see http://images.is.ed.ac.uk/luna/servlet/s/s4mynr). Thankfully, at the University we are blessed with some stunning locations to use instead, but with both of the obvious choices – St Cecilia’s Music Hall and the Reid Concert Hall – off limits for redevelopment, an alternative location required a bit of forethought and planning. Our colleagues at the Anatomy School very kindly agreed to let us use their beautiful Rowand Anderson designed building which provided sympathetic architectural details to arrange the instruments against and Malcolm and I decamped from the studio for 2 days to continue with the project.
Divinity Approaches to Research – Resources for Jewish Studies
Image from Seder Ṭohorot Mishnayot mi-Seder Kodashim im perush – Commentary by Maimonides. New College Library Dal-Chr 58a
Jewish sacred texts, biblical scholarship and devotional works in Hebrew can be discovered throughout New College Library’s Special Collections. Read More
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