Duncan Robinson In Memoriam

Duncan Robinson CBE (1943 - 2022) was a leading authority on British art from the eighteenth century onwards. He was also a well-loved Master of Magdalene College, 2002 – 2012, a highly respected teacher and a witty, engaging and very warm man. This exhibition reflects aspects of his remarkably full life and the communities with which he was engaged, with particular reference to Magdalene.

After attending Clare College, Cambridge, he was awarded a Mellon Fellowship to attend Yale from 1965-67, obtaining an MA degree in History of Art. He began his museum career as an Assistant Keeper in the Department of Paintings and Drawings at the Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge between 1970 and 1976 and was then appointed Keeper of Paintings and Drawings. From 1981 to 1995, he was Director of the Yale Center for British Art and additionally Chief Executive of the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art in London. He returned to the Fitzwilliam Museum as its Director and Marlay Curator in 1995. He retired as Director of the Fitzwilliam in 2007 in order to devote more time to Magdalene. Duncan was a Trustee of the Henry Moore Foundation (2006–14; Chair, 2008–14) and the Royal Collection (2006-12) and Chairman of the Trustees of the Prince’s Drawing School (2007-13). Between 2005 and 2012 he was Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge and Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire 2004 – 2015.

Exhibition Catalogue