Ledger collection gets new lease on life at gallery
Generous: The Ledger family has donated hundreds of items to Benalla Art Gallery.
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Benalla Art Gallery has recently completed a collection re-hang, with a new exhibition drawn entirely from the significant gift of works made by Laurence ‘Laurie’ Ledger and his wife Erma.
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By 1993 the Ledgers had donated more than 450 works, which are dated from the 1840s through to the 1980s, to Benalla Art Gallery.
Presented in the Salon style, the new exhibition features more than 200 works, about half of the Ledgers’ total gift.
Benalla Art Gallery director Eric Nas said this incredible legacy had formed the foundation of the Benalla Art Gallery Collection and featured in many thematic exhibitions in recent decades.
“Following themed collection exhibitions over the past two years it is appropriate we now directly acknowledge the Ledgers, who remain arguably Benalla Art Gallery’s most significant patrons to date,” Mr Nash said.
On display: Items from Benalla Art Gallery’s Ledger collection have had a re-hang.
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Beyond the gift of artworks, in 1972, the Ledgers donated $75,000 to enable the design and construction of the Benalla Art Gallery.
Their generosity was again demonstrated through the establishment of an Acquisition Trust Fund of $200,000.
“It is difficult to put into words the impact of such a significant philanthropic contribution,” Mr Nash said.
“Simply, it has enabled a really high quality and vibrant gallery program during the last 50 years.”
