A charitable trust has funded the acquisition by the Dales Countryside Museum of three paintings by the museum’s founder, Marie Hartley.
Friends of the Dales Countryside Museum sprang into action after hearing that the paintings were being offered for sale.
They had belonged to Marie Hartley’s helper about the house, Evelyn Cooper, who died last year.
One work was painted from Countersett looking on to Semerwater, another from near Hardraw looking towards Blue Bridge, and the third from the road looking down to Thwaite in Swaledale.
Evelyn’s son, James Cooper, said: “It was about 1962 when mother went to work part time for Miss Hartley and Miss Ingilby – 2 hours a day – when we lived in Askrigg. Once we were packed off to school, mother would go to Coleshouse, wash the breakfast pots, make them coffee and do some dusting around and what have you.
“She was there for a good thirty years. It was always ‘Miss Hartley’ and ‘Miss Ingilby’, they were that class of people, and Mother was always ‘Mrs Cooper’ to them. There were times when I would go to the house, when they were out interviewing for their books or painting, but I wasn’t allowed to run about.”
Marie Hartley bequeathed to the Dales Countryside Museum her wood engraving blocks, used to illustrate her celebrated and popular books on the Yorkshire Dales produced in collaboration with Ella Pontefract and Joan Ingilby, as well as personal items, sketchbooks and diaries. However, until now, the Dales Countryside Museum has not had any of Marie’s paintings to display.
The paintings are to be hung in the museum’s New Time gallery, placed alongside the umbrella Marie used when working outdoors.
Chair of Friends of the Dales Countryside Museum, Martin Garside (pictured with the three paintings), said: “For many years we have played a role in providing financial support for acquisition purchases and match funding for projects – and we were particularly delighted to do so on this occasion, given that the museum is a huge part of Marie Hartley’s legacy.
“Everyone will have their favourite but it’s hard not to be drawn to the painting of Thwaite in Swaledale, which is expertly composed, full of vivid contrasts, and includes people within it – two men on the bridge, and a woman and child. It was the stories of local people that fascinated Marie Hartley and which led to her founding the collection and the museum.”
The Dales Countryside Museum is run by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.
Member Champion for Promoting Understanding at the Authority, Neil Heseltine, said: “Marie Hartley perhaps did more than anyone to promote understanding and enjoyment of the Yorkshire Dales. People today still love her books and illustrations; her works continue to inspire people to discover Dales landscapes and people. Thanks to the Friends of the Dales Countryside Museum, we can put these three paintings on display and I’m sure they will be much enjoyed.”
