Professor Clare Willsdon

Professor of the History of Western Art (History of Art)

telephone: 01413306331
email: Clare.Willsdon@glasgow.ac.uk

R307 Level 3, History of Art, 8 University Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QH

Research interests

European painting 1800-1940, with special interest in art, gardens and the natural environment; Impressionism in Europe and North America; and mural painting;
Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, the Fin-de-siècle, and Vienna Secession;
contextual and thematic methodologies.

Key publications include the first survey and critical interpretation of 19th/20th-century mural painting in any country (Mural Painting in Britain 1840-1940, awarded the Historians of British Art prize, 2003), and In the Gardens of Impressionism (nominated for the National Library of Scotland/Saltire Society ‘Research Book 2005’, and ‘Sir Banister Fletcher Best Book in the Arts 2005-6’ awards). Exhibition work includes Academic Adviser for Impressionist Gardens (National Gallery of Scotland and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, 2010-11) and Country Gardens (Broadway Arts Festival, 2012), and a Curatorial Consultancy for Painting the Modern Garden (Cleveland Museum of Art and Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2015-16). Other exhibitions to which I have contributed include Gartenlust (Belvedere, Vienna, 2007), Renoir (Complesso del Vittoriano, Rome, 2008), Monet (ARoS Kunstmuseum, Aarhus, 2015-16), Whistler and Nature (travelling, Hunterian 2018-19), and Bright Edge Deep (https://www.brightedgedeep.arts.gla.ac.uk, part of the COP26 Virtual Peatlands Pavilion, 2021). I was a member of the international seminar panel established 2008 by the House of Lords Works of Art Committee in connection with the first mural commission for the Houses of Parliament since 1925, and have advised numerous other organisations, including Historic England, Survey of London, Kunsthaus Zürich, Shizuoka Prefectural Museum Japan, etc.

Forthcoming publications include an essay in the Impressionism across Fields conference proceedings, University of Paris (see below), another in New Directions in Whistler Research (Routledge, 2026, see below), a chapter on the murals of the important Austro-Hungarian emigré artist George Mayer-Marton (Liverpool University Press), and a catalogue essay for a major international exhibition on Monet (Munch Museum, Oslo).

I won the University of Glasgow ‘Engaged Researcher of the Year’ Award, 2016, and was shortlisted for the University’s ‘Best Collaboration (Arts & Culture)’ Knowledge Exchange and Public Engagement Award, 2020.

I have given many public lectures (National Gallery, London; Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid; Petit Palais, Paris, etc) and have contributed to BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Scotland, Radio Deutsche Welle and STV programmes on the arts, as well as the ‘Exhibition on Screen’ films ‘Painting the Modern Garden’, 2016 and ‘Van Gogh’s Sunflowers’, 2021. Recent papers include 'Impressionist gardens at Argenteuil and Pontoise as spaces of artistic renewal' at the Impressionism across Fields interdisciplinary conference marking the 150th anniversary of Impressionism (Musée d'Orsay, Paris and University of Paris, 2024; see Impressionism Across Fields. New Interdisciplinary Perspectives. (Day 1)); 'Sounding the Garden with Whistler, Mallarmé and Monet' at the New Directions in Whistler Research conference (Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen and University of Rouen, 2024); and 'Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: the living and the dead', at the 'Discovering Degas' symposium (University of Glasgow and Burrell Collection, Glasgow, 2024; see https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/cca/research/arthistoryresearch/discoveringdegas/studydayaudiorecordings/).

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2016 | 2015 | 2013 | 2012 | 2010 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

Number of items: 42.

2026

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2026) Taming nature, creating the garden, c. 1899–1915. In: Amundsen, Heidi and Thomson, Richard (eds.) Monet: the Wild and the Tamed. MUNCH. (Accepted for Publication)

2025

Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2025) Edward A. Walton and the Glasgow City Chambers Murals. Hunterian 'Friday Focus' Talk for Glasgow 850, Glasgow, Scotland, 09 May 2025.

2024

Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2024) Impressionist Gardens at Argenteuil and Pontoise as Spaces of Artistic Renewal. In: L'impressionnisme à travers champs: Nouveaux regards interdisciplinaires (Impressionism Across Fields: New Interdisciplinary Perspectives), Paris, France, 16-18 May 2024, (Accepted for Publication)

Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2024) 'Sounding the Garden with Whistler, Mallarmé, and Monet. In: New Research Developments on Whistlerism, Rouen, France, 21-22 June 2024, (Accepted for Publication)

2022

Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2022) George Mayer-Marton's Crucifixion: the heart of a Modernist Gesamtkunstwerk. SAVE Britain's Heritage Newsletter, 2022, pp. 10-13. Summer.

2021

Whitehouse, N.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7044-6492, Willsdon, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 and Beale, G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3570-8207 (2021) ‘Bright edge deep’: peatlands in history, culture and climate; an online experience. British Archaeology, 2021(Nov/De),

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 and de Montfort, Patricia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3378-8247 (2021) Whistler Nature and Science. [Website]

Braithwaite, Nicholas, Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291, Millar, Gordon and Waterhouse, Robert (Eds.) (2021) Murals and Mosaics: George Mayer-Marton. Series: Baquis little books. Baquis Press: Manchester. ISBN 9780955602566

Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2021) Church of the Holy Rosary, Fitton Hill, Oldham. In: Braithwaite, Nicholas, Willsdon, Clare A.P., Millar, Gordon and Waterhouse, Robert (eds.) George Mayer-Marton: Murals and Mosaics. Series: Baquis little books. Baquis Press: Manchester, pp. 12-17. ISBN 9780955602559

Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2021) St Clare’s, Blackley, Manchester. In: Braithwaite, Nicholas, Willsdon, Clare A.P., Millar, Gordon and Waterhouse, Robert (eds.) George Mayer-Marton: Murals and Mosaics. Series: Baquis little books. Baquis Press: Manchester, pp. 25-30. ISBN 9780955602559

Whitehouse, Nicki ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7044-6492, Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291, Beale, Gareth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3570-8207, Gardner, Tom, Davies, Althea, Gearey, Ben and Everett, Rosie (2021) Bright Edge Deep: peatlands in history, cultural heritage, and climate. [Exhibitions]

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2021) Foxglove and Bog Violet: Arran Up Close in a Sketchbook of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Arran Artists Symposium, 29 April 2021.

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2021) George Mayer Marton: Murals for Oldham and Blackley. George Mayer-Marton Murals and Mosaics', Insiders-Outsiders Festival, 22 March 2021.

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2021) Greening Glasgow in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries: Art, Health and Horticulture in the Public Park. The Dear Green Bothy. Cultural programme for COP26. Hosted in partnership with Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival, 14-17 September 2021.

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2021) Roses, leeks and water lilies: impressionist painters in the garden. Transactions of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society, 115, pp. 32-35.

2019

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2019) Les décors muraux en Grande-Bretagne. In: Andrieux, Jean-Yves, Chevallier, Fabienne and Nevanlinna, Anja Kervanto (eds.) Idée nationale et architecture en Europe: volume 2, Fin XVIIIe-XXIe siècle. Series: Art and société. Presses universitaires de Rennes: Rennes, pp. 277-296. ISBN 9782753578302

Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2019) "The lady of the garden, lawn and blackbird": Beatrix Whistler and horticulture. Women's History, 2(13), pp. 15-22.

2018

Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2018) Review of "James McNeill Whistler and France: A Dialogue in Paint, Poetry, and Music" by Suzanne Singletary. caa.reviews, 2018(Nov 19), (doi: 10.3202/caa.reviews.2018.230)[Book Review]

de Montfort, Patricia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3378-8247 and Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2018) Whistler and Nature. Paul Holberton: London. ISBN 9781911300496

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2018) Nature on the margins: parks, gardens, and coasts in Whistler’s work of the 1880s and 90s. In: de Montfort, Patricia and Willsdon, Clare (eds.) Whistler and Nature. Paul Holberton: London, pp. 77-111. ISBN 9781911300496

2016

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2016) Painting and photography. In: Payne, Christiana (ed.) In Focus: Pegwell Bay, Kent – a Recollection of October 5th 1858 ?1858–60 by William Dyce. Tate Research Publication. ISBN 9781849765428

2015

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2015) Late impressionism. In: Greub, Suzanne (ed.) Monet: Lost in Translation. Hirmer: München, pp. 198-227. ISBN 9783777424286

[Curatorial Consultant] Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2015) Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse. [Exhibitions]

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2015) Impressionist gardens. In: Don, Monty and Dumas, Ann (eds.) Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse. Royal Academy of Arts: London, pp. 76-85. ISBN 9781910350027

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2015) Making the modern garden. In: Don, Monty and Dumas, Ann (eds.) Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse. Royal Academy of Arts: London, pp. 28-47. ISBN 9781910350027

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 and Beamer, Rachel (2015) Chronology. In: Don, Monty and Dumas, Ann (eds.) Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse. Royal Academy of Arts: London, pp. 304-311. ISBN 9781910350027

2013

Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2013) From Lochnagar to Leith: in Scotland with Haag, Fréchou, Signorini and Orlik, 1850–1900. Journal of the Scottish Society for Art History, 18, pp. 57-64.

Ingram, David, Bisgrove, Richard and Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2013) The call of the wild: wild flowers in gardens and art: the Broadway connection. Ruskin Review and Bulletin, 9(1), pp. 42-51.

2012

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2012) Country Gardens: John Singer Sargent RA, Alfred Parsons RA and their Contemporaries. Broadway Arts Festival Trust: Broadway, UK. ISBN 9780957272507

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2012) Impressionist interiors. French Studies, 66(3), pp. 409-410. (doi: 10.1093/fs/kns147)[Book Review]

2010

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2010) Impressionist Gardens. National Galleries of Scotland: Edinburgh, UK. ISBN 9781906270285

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2010) Jardines Impresionistas. Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza: Madrid, Spain. ISBN 9788496233997

2008

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2008) Petali, profumi e brezze: i giardini di Renoir. In: Adler, K. (ed.) Renoir: La Maturità tra Classico e Moderno. Skira: Milano, Italy, pp. 107-119. ISBN 9788861306172

2007

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2007) Impressionistische Gartenmalerei und Weg in Monet's Garten. In: Husslein-Arco, A. (ed.) Gartenlust : der Garten in der Kunst; [Ausstellung Gartenlust. Der Garten in der Kunst, Belvedere Wien, 22. März bis 24. Juni 2007]. Christian Branstatter Verlag: Vienna, pp. 130-141. ISBN 9783850330527

2006

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2006) Image and Identity in Mural Painting in British Public Buildings, 1840-1940. In: Gowing, R. and Pender, R. (eds.) All Manner of Murals: the history, techniques and conservation of secular wall paintings: proceedings of the secular wall paintings symposia. Archetype Publications: London, pp. 89-101. ISBN 978 1 904982 11 1

2005

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2005) Aspects of Klimt's Landscapes and the Emblem Tradition. In: Harper, A.J., Hopel, I. and Sirc, S. (eds.) Emblematic Tendencies in the Art and Literature of the Twentieth Century. Series: Glasgow Emblem Studies, Vol. 10. Glasgow Emblem Studies, University of Glasgow: Glasgow, pp. 24-45. ISBN 0852618212

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2005) Les Jardins des Impressionistes. La Bibliothèque des Arts: Lausanne, Switzerland. ISBN 9782884531245

2004

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2004) In den Gärten der Impressionisten. Belser Verlag: Stuttgart, Germany. ISBN 9783763024322

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2004) In the Gardens of Impressionism. Vendome Press: New York, USA. ISBN 9780865652323

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2004) In the Gardens of Impressionism. Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0-500-51147-0

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2004) The Ramsay Garden Murals and their Links with French Mural Painting. Journal of the Scottish Society for Art History, 9, pp. 69-78.

2003

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2003) Promenades et Plantations: Impressionism, Conservation and Haussmann's reinvention of Paris. In: Fowle, F. and Thomson, R. (eds.) Soil and Stone: Impressionism, Urbanism, Environment. Ashgate Press: Aldershot, pp. 107-124. ISBN 0-7546 3685 2

This list was generated on Fri Dec 26 06:52:41 2025 GMT.

Number of items: 42.

Articles

Willsdon, Clare A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2019) "The lady of the garden, lawn and blackbird": Beatrix Whistler and horticulture. Women's History, 2(13), pp. 15-22.

Books

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2010) Impressionist Gardens. National Galleries of Scotland: Edinburgh, UK. ISBN 9781906270285

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2010) Jardines Impresionistas. Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza: Madrid, Spain. ISBN 9788496233997

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2005) Les Jardins des Impressionistes. La Bibliothèque des Arts: Lausanne, Switzerland. ISBN 9782884531245

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2004) In den Gärten der Impressionisten. Belser Verlag: Stuttgart, Germany. ISBN 9783763024322

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2004) In the Gardens of Impressionism. Vendome Press: New York, USA. ISBN 9780865652323

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2004) In the Gardens of Impressionism. Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0-500-51147-0

Book Sections

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2015) Late impressionism. In: Greub, Suzanne (ed.) Monet: Lost in Translation. Hirmer: München, pp. 198-227. ISBN 9783777424286

Book Reviews

Willsdon, C.A.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2012) Impressionist interiors. French Studies, 66(3), pp. 409-410. (doi: 10.1093/fs/kns147)[Book Review]

Edited Books

Conference or Workshop Item

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2021) Foxglove and Bog Violet: Arran Up Close in a Sketchbook of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Arran Artists Symposium, 29 April 2021.

Conference Proceedings

Exhibitions

[Curatorial Consultant] Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 (2015) Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse. [Exhibitions]

Website

Willsdon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-6291 and de Montfort, Patricia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3378-8247 (2021) Whistler Nature and Science. [Website]

This list was generated on Fri Dec 26 06:52:41 2025 GMT.

Grants

Grants include: Woburn Abbey Consultancy, 2017-18; three University of Glasgow KE Fund awards (2018-19, and 2024-5); two University of Glasgow ‘Dear Green Bothy’ public engagement awards (2021); a NERC/University of Glasgow 'Discipline-hopping' grant (joint with Prof. N. Whitehouse, Archaeology, 2022-3), and a University of Glasgow Impact Development and Evaluation award (2025).

Supervision

I welcome applications from students interested in postgraduate research in areas relating to my research foci. I am currently co-supervising PhD students working in the fields of French Impressionism, and print-making, and an MPhil (research) student working on aspects of late 19th/early 20th-century transnational Impressionism.

Gernentz, Mattea Leigh
Flânerie and Flourishing: Impressionism and the New Woman in French Interiors and Exteriors
MacLeod, Jenny
‘Scottish Women Etchers of the Etching Revival, 1880-1930’

These include PhD theses on nineteenth/early twentieth-century art and artists, including William Hole and James McNeill Whistler, and themes including art-literature relationships, and aspects of art education in the nineteenth century.

Teaching

I teach the following specialist option courses (not necessarily all offered each year):

'Impressionism: Innovation and Invention, 1874-1926' (MLitt)
'Early Impressionism, 1850-1876' (Senior Honours)
'Symbolism and Secession' (Junior Honours)

I also normally supervise MLitt and Honours dissertations in areas relevant to my research interests, and contribute to the following team-taught core courses:

'Research Methods and Skills’ (MLitt)
'Methodology of Art History' (Junior Honours)
‘Portfolio’ (Junior Honours’)
‘Patrons, Collectors, Museums and Markets’ (Level 2A)
‘Imagination, Traditions and Invention’ (Level 2B)
‘Art History and its Materials and Techniques’ (Level 1A)
‘Art History in Action’ (Level 1B).

I also devised and introduced in 2012 the Junior Hons 'Methodology of Art History with Work Placement' course, and have led or contributed to its delivery since.

I received the 'Outstanding Contribution to Teaching' award at the SRC's 2024-5 Teaching Awards ceremony.

Additional information

AFFILIATIONS:

Member of the Association for Art History;
Elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Higher Education Academy and Royal Society of Arts;
Honorary Curator, Glasgow Life.

ADMINISTRATION:

From 2022-2025 I was Head of History of Art, and in course of my career I have undertaken a wide range of other administrative duties, including the role of Unit 32 REF Champion for REF 2021. I am on research leave during 2024-5, but remain University of Glasgow representative on Glasgow School of Art Annual Programme Monitoring Board, and Glasgow University/Glasgow School of Art Joint Liaison Committee.

We use cookies

Necessary cookies

Analytics cookies

Clarity