Celebrating the legacy of Louise Hanson-Dyer: new book launch and artwork acquisition

The University of Melbourne is celebrating the remarkable Australian Louise Hanson-Dyer (1884-1962), a visionary in music publishing and art collection, with a newly acquired artwork and new book exploring her impact on music and art in France.

An event on 28 February 2024 will bring together Archives and Special Collections (Student and Scholarly Services) and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (Faculty of Fine Arts and Music), showcasing the unveiling of a newly acquired portrait and the launch of a major new book, both dedicated to Hanson-Dyer's influential legacy.

Louise Hanson-Dyer, the founder of the prestigious Editions de l’Oiseau-Lyre in Paris in 1932, made an indelible mark on the music and arts scene through her production of high-quality sound recordings and print music from 1939. Her contributions were recognised with the chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 1934, and later, promotion to officer in 1957. Hanson-Dyer's enduring connection to Australia and her generous bequest, alongside her second husband Jeff Hanson, have supported numerous University of Melbourne projects over many years.

The event will include presentation of a portrait of Hanson-Dyer by Italian artist Giovanni Costetti, painted in 1929. This acquisition, funded by Archives and Special Collections and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, captures the essence of Hanson-Dyer's character — her charm, determination, and will as someone with conviction to achieve and who will not let obstacles stand in her way. Art historian Gerard Vaughan AM, notes the portrait's unique quality of being "directly observed," setting it apart from other representations of Hanson-Dyer.

The event will also include the launch of the book, Pursuit of the New: Louise Hanson-Dyer, Publisher and Collector, edited by Kerry Murphy and Jennifer Hill and published by Lyrebird Press. This publication, the first on Hanson-Dyer since Jim Davidson’s Lyrebird Rising in 1994, gathers an international cadre of scholars to explore her impact on early French musicology, sound recording, fine art, design, and music publishing in France. The book delves into Hanson-Dyer's passion for the visual arts, featuring her collections of works by Pablo Picasso, Juan Miró, and a portrait of Hanson-Dyer by Max Ernst, among others.

Kerry Murphy, co-editor, said ‘this is the first book to appear on Dyer since Jim Davidson’s remarkable Lyrebird Rising of 1994. It brings together an international group of scholars with expertise in the history of early French musicology and sound recording; fine art and design; and critical editions and music publishing in France. It is fitting that the book is being published by Lyrebird Press (Australia) which was established at the University of Melbourne in 2006 to continue the work of Editions de l’Oiseau-Lyre, but with a focus on music and music-making in Australia and New Zealand.’

More information on Louise Hanson-Dyer can be found here.