Genevieve Pilley by Helen Parker - Off the Shelf 2019

Miss Genevieve Pilley, “Vieva”, was born in Sheffield in 1878. She started work at the Ruskin Museum at Meersbrook, aged 20, looking after the Library and becoming the Museum curator in 1931. Helen Parker gives an illustrated talk on her booklet Genevieve Pilley: 50 years’ devotion to Ruskin at the Meersbrook Museum. It tells of a spirited, devout and talented woman, a true Ruskinian, and exceptional illuminating artist, who guided the Museum through its mixed fortunes in the 1930s and 40s.

The talk took place at the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield as part of Off the Shelf Festival 2019.