A tour of Somerville College through its art

Learn more about the history of Somerville College through a tour of its art collection.

The ‘heart’ of Somerville College: future and past

Standing at the noticeboard in the main quad, look towards the Radcliffe Observatory (Grade I listed). To the left is the Stephen A Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, opened at the end of 2025. The development of the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter…

Self-portrait

Self-portrait, seated in an armchair writing Mary Somerville, ‘with the help of the engraver, Mr Dick.’ Date: Unknown Medium: Oil on panel Donor: Lt Col J Ramsay Fairfax, 1958 Mary Somerville attended the Edinburgh academy of painter Alexander Nasmy…

Mary Somerville, 1844

Mary Somerville in classical attire Lawrence MacDonald (1799–1878) Date: 1844 Medium: Marble Donor: Major Fairfax-Lucy, 1961 Made in Rome in 1844, this work follows the classicising trend of sculpture at the time: the treatment was very smooth and s…

Hilda Lockhart Lorimer

[Need image] Hilda Lockhart Lorimer James Arden Grant, (1887–1973) Date: 1958 Medium: Chalk Donor: Vera Brittain About the sitter Vera Brittain described Miss Lorimer as ‘one of the most brilliantly eccentric of women dons.’ A Scot who came to Somer…

Vera Farnell

[Need image] Vera Farnell Hubert Andrew Freeth, (1912–1986) Date: 1951 Medium: Chalk Donor: By subscription in 1952 About the sitter Vera Farnell originally studied French at Somerville (1911–14). She later became Tutor in English and French. She he…

Daphne Park

Daphne Park Henry Mee, (1955-) Date: 2009 Medium: Oil on canvas Donor: The artist in 2009 About the sitter Daphne Park (1921–2010); Principal 1980–89. Came to Somerville in 1940 to read French. Worked for the SOE in WWII; eventually became a senior …

Ethel A Jones

Ethel A Jones Peter Greenham, (1909–1992) Date: Unknown Medium: Oil on Canvas Donor: Unknown About the sitter Ethel Jones originally studied at Somerville from 1900 to 1903. She later held the Mary Somerville Research Fellowship. (Somerville for Wom…