ONLINE EXHIBITION
The History of The NAGB
July 7, 2023 until
The History of the NAGB compiles and showcases the NAGB’s history from its start as a stately residence to its present-day status as the premier national art institution in The Bahamas. Explore the rich history, influential people, and pioneering exhibitions that placed the museum at the center of Bahamian art and culture.
Curated by: Amaani Hepburn
View the exhibition below
The History of the Villa Doyle
From stately residence to premier national art institution, explore the restoration and conservation of the historical building housing the NAGB.
The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) was the first institution of its kind in the history of The Bahamas, announced in 1996, by then-Prime Minister, Hubert A. Ingraham, as part of a larger expanded system of museums that would record, preserve, and historicize the narrative of the independent sovereign nation, established in 1973.
The NAGB is housed within the “Villa Doyle”, an approximately 160-year-old mansion and former residence of distinguished Bahamian governors, civil servants, and social contributors. It was built in the 1860s by Sir William Doyle, Chief Justice and the first person born on Bahamian soil to be bestowed a knighthood.
After his passing in 1879, his widow and children assumed ownership in 1883 and subsequently sold the property and assets to William Robert Pyfrom a few months later. The residence’s ownership changed hands once again in 1924, in the sale to Walter Kingsbury Moore (later Sir Walter).
Sir Walter Moore and family. Image courtesy of the Moore family.
The ballroom functions as a gallery space today. Artwork: Inflorescence/Influence (2018), Kendra Frorup, bronze and mixed media.
Sir Walter was responsible for major additions to the Villa Doyle. This included a two-story addition on the southern end of the original building, which comprised a grand Ballroom upstairs, study, billiard and bedrooms on the ground floor (Gail Saunders, 1996). On these new additions, wrap-around verandas and a new roof were constructed to tie the whole affair together with the initial building.
Villa Doyle Ballroom. Image courtesy of NAGB Board Member.
There have been a number of successive owners and occupants at the Villa Doyle following Sir Walter Moore’s occupancy. Following his death, the Trustees of Trinity Methodist Church bestowed the building and its property. In 1968, they then sold it to Baroness Von Hoyningen Huene (formerly Nancy Oakes). Ten years later, in 1978, she sold the Villa Doyle and assets to Keith Aranha, the final private owner before the Bahamian Government purchased it in 1995.
Positioned on the rise overlooking the top of West Street, the Villa Doyle is situated at the intersections of several historic sites steeped in value and importance. The property is located on the border of historic Delancy Town and is within easy walking distance of Downtown Nassau’s port and main business quarter. It physically bridges the two districts that are at the core of the nation: bustling Downtown—the hub of colonial power and continued wealth through commerce and tourism—and the ‘Over-the-Hill’ community—also known as the ‘nation’s navel’—where the Majority Rule leaders were born and raised.
Image (top): Skinner, A. (1788) Map of the Harbour of Nassau in the Island of New Providence, 1788. Kew, Richmond, UK: The National Archives. Image (bottom): Bain Town (1984) by Dorman Stubbs, oil on canvas. The National Collection.
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Furthermore, towards the North-eastern side of the building is the site of the first documented hospital in The Bahamas; it was known as the African Hospital (Ndlovu, 1). According to Dr. Harold Munnings, in his book on the Princess Margaret Hospital, the hospital was established in 1780 and was integral in providing medicine and care specific to the Black/African people in New Providence.
Image: Skinner, A. (1788) Map of the Harbour of Nassau in the Island of New Providence, 1788. Kew, Richmond, UK: The National Archives.
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In the 1990s, under a campaign led by historian and founding Chairman, Dr. Gail Saunders (1944-2023), the building was restored as a site for history to be recognized, unpacked and interpreted; the building was restored and transformed into an art gallery to become the NAGB.
Villa Doyle’s restoration took almost seven years to complete involving a dedicated team of professionals and consultants under the supervision of architect, Anthony Jervis; civil engineer, Mr. George Cox; Dr. Petrine Archer Straw (Gallery Conversion Consultant), and the National Art Gallery’s Committee chaired by Dr. Gail Saunders.
Image courtesy of Nicholas Klonaris.
Now as a public institution, the NAGB is partially funded by a governmental subvention but engages a public-private network to operate and is also supported by the community that it serves, in the form of ticket sales, memberships, donations and otherwise.
Image courtesy of Jackson Petit-Homme.
Timeline of the Institution
From stately residence to premier national art institution, chart the restoration and conservation of the historical building housing the NAGB.
[icon_timeline timeline_line_style=”solid” timeline_line_color=”#ffffff” time_block_bg_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.01)” time_sep_color=”#ffffff” time_sep_bg_color=”#e8cc00″][icon_timeline_item time_title=”1860s: Villa Doyle Construction Begins” title_font_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]
Sir William Doyle, Chief Justice and the first person born on Bahamian soil to be bestowed a knighthood, purchases the property atop of West and West Hill Streets. He begins construction on his residence, which is to be named “Villa Doyle”. Villa Doyle is soon built; it is a two-story mansion on top of the hill, facing seaward (north) towards Nassau Harbour.
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”1879″ title_font_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]
Sir William Doyle passes away leaving the property to his family.
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”1883″ title_font_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]
Doyle’s widow and daughter assume ownership of the property. Villa Doyle is later sold to William Pyfrom, a merchant by trade, a few months later.
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”1920s: Sir Walter Moore Purchases the Villa Doyle” title_font_color=”#ffffff” desc_font_size=”desktop:20px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]Villa Doyle is purchased from the Pyfrom family, after the passing of William Pyfrom, by Walter Kingsbury Moore (later Sir Walter), President of the Legislative Council (the former name of the upper chamber of the Bahamas legislature, renamed the Senate in 1964).
Sir Walter Moore embarks on major renovations and expansions of the Villa Doyle, including a two-story addition on the southern end of the building (the right side of building on the image below).
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”1924: Expansion of the Villa Doyle” title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” title_font_color=”#ffffff” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]
The major renovations and expansion are completed. The expansion comprises two levels of rooms including a ballroom, study, bedrooms, billiard room, a new roof, and wrap-around verandas.
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”1968″ title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” title_font_color=”#ffffff” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]
Nancy Oakes (the daughter of Sir Harry Oakes and later known as Baroness Von Hoyningen Huene) purchases the Villa Doyle.
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”1978″ title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” title_font_color=”#ffffff” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]
Nancy Oakes sells the Villa Doyle and its property to Keith Aranha. Keith Aranha was the final private owner of the Villa Doyle before the Bahamian Government purchased it.
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”The 1930s – 90s: Pre-restoration” title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” title_font_color=”#ffffff” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]
Upon Sir Walter Moore’s death, the Villa Doyle and assets were bestowed upon the Trustees of Trinity Methodist Church.
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”The 1990s: Villa Doyle Restoration” title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” title_font_color=”#ffffff” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]
Villa Doyle is identified by the Bahamian Government as an ideal structure to be preserved for the future location of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB).
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”1995″ title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” title_font_color=”#ffffff” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]
Villa Doyle and property are purchased from its last private owner, Keith Aranha, by the Bahamian Government.
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”1996″ title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” title_font_color=”#ffffff” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]A contract solidifying the proceeding restoration and conversion of the Villa Doyle is signed at the Department of Archives between the co-chair of the steering committee and national archivist, Dr. Gail Saunders; co-chair and Bahamian art collector, Vincent D’Aguilar; civil engineer, George Cox; architect, Anthony Jervis; and Chairman of the Building Restoration Committee, Harold Munnings.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”1997″ title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” title_font_color=”#ffffff” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]
Restoration of the Villa Doyle begins; the restoration and conversion of the building are overseen by Anthony Jervis (Lead Architect), Mr. George Cox (Lead Civil Engineer), Dr. Petrine Archer Straw (Gallery Conversion Consultant), and the National Art Gallery’s Committee chaired by Dr. Gail Saunders.
[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=”2003: The NAGB officially opens and hosts the Inaugural National Exhibition” title_font_size=”desktop:24px;” title_font_color=”#ffffff” desc_font_size=”desktop:18px;” desc_font_color=”#ffffff”]The NAGB officially opens its doors and galleries to the public. The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held and attended by many, including then-Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, former Governor-General Dame Ivy L. Dumont, prominent members of the arts community, and the general public. Dr. Erica James was appointed Chief Curator in 2003 and three exhibitions were launched alongside the opening of the NAGB: Bahamian Visions: 1870-1920 curated by Dr. Krista Thompson, One Man’s Vision curated by Dr. Petrine Archer Straw, and the Inaugural National Exhibition: 1973-2003.[/icon_timeline_item][/icon_timeline]
Exhibition History
Learn about the exhibitions* that pushed social, cultural, and artistic boundaries and have put the museum on the map locally, regionally, and internationally.
*Exhibition history includes Permanent, National, and Inter-Island Traveling exhibitions
Special Thanks
This project has been made possible by the gracious research efforts and contributions of Penelope Nottage (former NAGB librarian), the Department of Archives, and many more.