The History of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas
By Amaani Hepburn
Our History
The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas was the first institution of its kind in Bahamian history. Announced in 1996 by then-Prime Minister Hubert A. Ingraham, it was part of a broader initiative to establish a network of museums that would record, preserve, and historicise the narrative of the independent nation, established in 1973.
Our Building
The NAGB is housed within the Villa Doyle, a mansion with an approximate 160-year history. It was once the residence of distinguished Bahamian governors, civil servants, and social contributors. Constructed in the 1860s by Sir William Doyle—Chief Justice and the first Bahamian-born individual to receive a knighthood—the building is an architectural marker of the nation’s colonial past.
Early Ownership and Expansion
After Sir William Doyle’s passing in 1879, the property changed hands multiple times. In 1883, his widow and children sold Villa Doyle to William Robert Pyfrom. Decades later, in 1924, it was purchased by Walter Kingsbury Moore (later Sir Walter), who undertook major renovations.
Sir Walter’s expansions included a two-story addition to the southern end of the original building. This extension housed a grand ballroom upstairs, along with a study, billiard room, and additional bedrooms on the ground floor (Gail Saunders, 1996). Wrap-around verandahs and a new roof were added, integrating the new construction with the original structure.
Later Ownership and Transition to a Public Institution
Following Sir Walter Moore’s death in 1957, Villa Doyle passed to the Trustees of Trinity Methodist Church, who sold it in 1968 to Baroness Von Hoyningen Huene (formerly Nancy Oakes). In 1978, she sold the property to Keith Aranha, its final private owner before the Bahamian Government purchased it in 1995.
A Site of Historic and Cultural Significance
Perched on the rise overlooking West Street, Villa Doyle stands at the convergence of several historically significant sites. It sits on the border of the historic Delancy Town and is within walking distance of Downtown Nassau’s colonial-era administrative and commercial district. The museum physically bridges two integral parts of the nation’s history: the tourism and commerce-driven hub of Downtown and the ‘Over-the-Hill’ community—often referred to as the ‘nation’s navel’—which birthed and nurtured leaders of Majority Rule.
African Hospital
To the northeast of Villa Doyle once stood The Bahamas’ first documented hospital, the African Hospital, established in 1780. According to Dr Harold Munnings’ research on the Princess Margaret Hospital, this institution played a vital role in providing medical care specifically for Black and African people.
Architectural Restoration
In the 1990s, under the leadership of historian and founding Chairman Dr Gail Saunders, Villa Doyle underwent a nearly seven-year restoration process. The transformation into an art museum was overseen by architect Anthony Jervis, civil engineer George Cox, and gallery conversion consultant Dr Petrine Archer-Straw, along with the National Art Gallery Committee chaired by Dr Saunders.
Present Day
Today, the NAGB operates as a public institution, supported in part by a governmental subvention and a network of public-private partnerships. The museum continues to thrive with the support of the community it serves, through admission, memberships, donations, and other means.
Special Thanks
This project has been made possible through the dedicated research efforts of Penelope Nottage, former NAGB librarian, the Department of Archives, and many others.