The portrait shows Shipley among his papers, perhaps in his study working by the light of a lamp
Object History Note
Sir Arthur Shipley was Master of Christ's College 1910-1927, and also Vice Chancellor of the University, 1917-1919. He was a zoologist who popularised the life sciences and took a very active interest in the wider life of the University, as well as acting as Cambridge correspondent for 'The Times' newspaper. The artist, Olive Edis-Galsworthy, was famous for her photography work in particular but was also known to undertake conventional oil paintings like this one. Olive photographed many influential figures of her day, including the author Thomas Hardy and George Bernard Shaw, Asquith and King George VI. She was appointed an official war artist and photographed British Women's Services and the battlefields of France and Flanders between 1918 and 1919. She photographed many prominent women including Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Nancy Astor and Emmeline Pankhurst. She divided her time between Sheringham in Norfolk, and London, and the largest collection of her work is now held at Cromer Museum.
