A major retrospective exhibition, coming in 2021 will celebrate the career of one of britains bestloved artists. In her long career, knight was among the most successful and popular painters in. We are operating a booking system please book your place in. My third book, the night raid, came about again due to the discovery of a strong woman with wartime links. He was an official war artist in the second world war, during which time he was. Laura knight 1877 1970 was perhaps the most important female artist of her era, and her accomplishments are woven into the fabric of british public life of the twentieth century. Educated at a time when studying lifedrawing was the preserve of male artists, knight railed against social restrictions of the day and established her own life studio. Dame laura knight, nee johnson, dbe ra rws 4 august 1877 7 july 1970 was an english artist who worked in oils, watercolours, etching, engraving and drypoint. She was created a dame in 1929, and became the first woman elected to the royal academy in 1936. In the book, she describes the regular visits she made to iver, and her. John croft fca for his assistance in cataloguing this lot. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Knight was a painter in the figurative, realist tradition and who embraced english impressionism.
Laura knight harold knight catalogue raisonne help. Her success in the maledominated british art establishment paved the way for greater status and recognition for women artists. The artists works above whilst shown in alphabetical order may also be viewed by categories e. A life probes beneath the myths and fictions that have and continue to be woven around the artist. Dame laura knights paintings of gypsy wagons, horses, and ww2. Dame laura knight 18771970 was born in long eaton, derbyshire, uk.
She was also consistently inspired by painting marginalised individuals, often painting gypsy communities and circus performers. From her earliest days she wanted to paint in the open air, and this work began at staithes, on the yorkshire coast, and developed at laren in holland. Laura published the second volume of her autobiography, the magic of a line in 196. Timed to coincide with the dame laura knight exhibition in exhibition walk organised by the society, which continues until 10th august, and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of lauras death the author hopes this book will. Dame laura knight painter of infinite humanity imperial war. Jul 27, 2017 a while ago i posted on my blog a guest post from clare harvey about the night raid and its historical elements. She served as an official war artist in world war ii and later recorded the nuremberg trials. British 18771970 clown with typed letter signed and dated 23rd march 1961, letter addressed to mr cole, thanking him for his letter. Dame laura knight, dbe ra rws was an english artist who worked in oils, watercolours, etching, engraving and drypoint. The novel is inspired by the reallife dame laura knight, a wellknown artist at the time of wwii see the 17 december 2017 post on, but many of the incidents described are imagined. In 1929 she was created dame of the british empire, and in 1936 became the first. Crofts initial talk 5 invitation to munnings in cornwall exhibition. Dame laura knight ra 18771970 was the first female member to be elected to the royal academy of arts, submitting dawn, her now famous painting of two female nudes, as her diploma work in 1936. Also nestling among the often anonymous exhortations relating to everything from fuel economy, agricultural production to recycling, patriotism and the general war effort are dame laura knight s depictions of the womens land army wla.
Commissioned by the governments war artists advisory commission, she became a familiar sight at britains factories and military bases. Laura knight, the first woman elected to the royal academy of arts, is widely acknowledged as one of the most important english artists of the twentieth century. Dame laura knight was a war artist in both the first and second world wars. Although she was in her 60s when the war broke out, she proved able to work in daunting physical conditions. During the second world war laura became an official war artist. The beautiful designs and colours of wartime british home. Dame laura knight goodreads meet your next favorite book. A celebration exhibition at penlee house gallery and. Timely arrival of a new book about dame laura knight in the malverns. In 1929 she was created a dame, and in 1936 became the first woman. This muchanticipated biography appears at a time of renewed interest in dame laura s extensive repertoire. Her work covers a variety of subjects from the nuremberg trials to her portrayals of londons theatre and ballet. Another painting of mayo hangs on the wall among numerous other portraits.
May 21, 2018 this was commissioned in october 1942 to encourage women to come and work in the factories for the war effort at a time when retention of women and absenteeism were issues, owing to inadequate childcare and long hours, and factories were seen as unpleasant places to work. Laura knight became a key member of the st ives school of painters. Inspire a love of reading with amazon book box for. Oct 30, 2020 this film of laura knight painting model eileen mayo was made by british pathe in 1927, not long after knight had been elected an associate of the royal academy. In the mid1930s, dame laura knights interest in communities on the. Heather whatleys new book laura knight in the malverns has just arrived on. Laura knight drawings, sketches and prints harold knight oil paintings and watercolours note. With this latest book on dame laura knight, barbara has once again brought her. Laura knight 18771970 was the first woman artist to be made a dame of the british empire.
By 1929, knight was already a highly regarded british painter, a dame of the. His own oxford university press book ventures far beyond nuremberg, in time as well as place, as it. Such catalogue will be the worldwide recognised authority on the artists lives and works. Laura knight was particularly known for subverting the male perspective and adapting a radical modern approach to depicting women. Thousands of women enlisted as nurses and served on the front lines. Made a dame of the british empire in 1929, she was elected to the royal academy in 1936 the first woman elected in its nearly two centuries of existence. Royal academy exhibitors 19051970, volume iv, page 198. Sitter in 34 portraits artist associated with 3 portraits knight studied at nottingham school of art in 1900, and there met harold knight. The painting was commissioned by the war artists advisory committee as part of the british war effort in the second world war. Timely arrival of a new book about dame laura knight in the. Two letters written by laura knight on 1939 may 11 that provide letters of introduction for contacts in the united states on behalf of fellow artist clara klinghoffer.
Educated at a time when studying lifedrawing was the preserve of male artists, knight railed against social restrictions. Dec 14, 2020 and one of those women, dame laura knight, is the creator of the painting on the cover of justice as message. Knight, laura ministry of information knight, laura her majestys stationery office hubners ltd iwm national gallery royal air force official photographer anderson, john bbc balcon, jill bergson, steve british paramount news collins curwen press printer dunbar, janet darracott, joseph c fox, caroline hill, adrian legion book minchin, h. A fisherman examines the fly at the end of his fishing line, while the woman next to him holds his bag. Reviewed in the united kingdom on february 2, 2009. This work will be included in the laura knight catalogue raisonne, currently being compiled by mr r. Dame laura knight 18771970 was one of the most popular and pioneering british artists of the twentieth century. A major exhibition features more than forty of laura knights portraits and. This muchanticipated biography appears at a time of renewed interest in dame lauras extensive repertoire. Laura knight 18771970 was the first woman artist to be made a dame of. Timed to coincide with the dame laura knight exhibition in exhibition walk organised by the society, which continues until 10th august, and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of lauras death the author hopes this book. Heather whatleys new book laura knight in the malverns has just arrived on the bookshelves.
Thousands more joined defensive militias and in the soviet union they were able to join the red army itself. Oil paint and grease paint tells the inside story of a multifaceted original. She was known for her portraits and paintings of gypsies, circus folk, and during wwii, she was an official war artist. Laura knight a working life by acc art books issuu. In the first half of the century she was one of the most highly regarded of british artists and in 1936 she became the first woman to be created a royal academician since the original. So i began reading the night raid with interest when i received a copy from the author a few months ago. Dame laura knight 1877 1970 was activelived in england, united kingdom. Dame laura knight 18771970 built a commanding reputation as one of the leading british painters of her generation, with many of her subjects taken from her intimate knowledge of the theatre, the ballet and the circus. During the second world war, knight was an official war artist, contracted by the war artists. Inspire a love of reading with amazon book box for kids. Laura knight and harold knight works dame laura knight. Most biographies of laura mention her stay in malvern but none give detail of the three decades from 1931 until 1961 that she lived here. They had met when they were both studying at the nottingham school of art. Her autobiographyoriginally published in 1936 and now back in print with forty color imagesoffers a fascinating look.
During world war ii, she worked with the government as an. John croft seeks assistance from anyone who can help in the compilation of a catalogue of all the works of both dame laura knight and also on her husband harold knight. Laura knight portraits book in our shops a life in portraits. By 1946, it had been a full decade since knight s english impressionist works made her the first woman elected to britains royal academy of arts in more than 150 years. One is written to klinghoffer, the other to marion fenhagen.
Sep 03, 2019 artists employed on shortterm contracts such as laura knight, l. Her artistic career took her from cornwall to baltimore, and from the circus to the nuremberg trials. Heather was the founder and is now the vice chair of the friends of dame laura knight society. Barbaras meticulous research and her writing expertise bring laura knight s paintings to life. This is a fantastic well written book that will enlighten the reader to a wonderful women artist such as laura knight. After the second world war they lived at the colwall park hotel nearby. She was also the only female war artist in world war two, covering the nuremberg war crime trials as the official british artist, with her career culminating in1963. After marrying in 1903, they joined an artists colony at staithes, yorkshire, before moving in 1908 to newlyn, cornwall.
Archive index friends of dame laura knight society. Dame knight is known for impressionist seaside figure painting, landscape, circus and ballet genre. Dame laura knight hardcover january 1, 1989 by caroline fox author visit amazons caroline fox page. Timely arrival of a new book about dame laura knight in. British art pottery dame laura knight edward a good letter from laura knight to a marjory and marcus, thanking them for their letters and stating that she looks forward to see them at the r. In 1965 the academys major retrospective of her work recognised her importance in british art. A major exhibition features more than forty of laura knight s portraits and sketches including several which confirm her as an important commentator on the 193945 war. An english painter and printmaker, she struggled against the restrictions female artists had to deal with in those days. In britain, war artist dame laura knight painted ruby loftus screwing a breech ring in 1943. Dame laura knight, ra, dbe, rws 18771970 doerr valuations. However, the world war two art productions examined here display a certain number of. Laura knight 18771970 was an english realist painter who documented life and culture in britain during the first half of the twentieth century. Magazine picture of a painting by dame laura knight depicting corporal.
Dame laura knight, 4 august 1877 7 july 1970 an english artist who worked in oils. In her long career, knight was among the most successful and popular painters in britain. Dec 12, 20 laura knight 18771970 was one of the most distinguished women artists of the early 20th century with an international reputation. Ruby loftus, screwing a breechring by dame laura knight, 1943. Dame laura knight 18771970 was a great celebrity in her time and her work is loved as much today as it was at the height of her fame. In 1908 knight settled in newlyn with her husband, the painter harold knight. The night raid by clare harvey meet your next favorite book. See more ideas about knight, painter, english artists.
The index as listed below each relate to a specific storage box. A book of drawings, with an introduction by charles marriott. Dame laura knight 18771970 was one of the twentieth centurys most prolific british artists. Laura knights greatest moment of popular esteem came during the years of world war ii. Lowry, henry moore and stanley spencer are also included in the programme dame laura knight war artist left to right the dock at nuremberg, charcoal study of the british prosecutor david maxwell fyfe. Her skill in capturing movement, form and colour excels in her drawings and paintings of such legendary dancers as karsavina in firebird and the threecornered hat.
Mar 03, 2021 spring, dame laura knight 191620 spring, dame laura knight 191620. This unpleasantlooking character is called the squander bug, and it was created during the second world war by artist phillip boydell, an employee of the. Reproduced with permission of the estate of dame laura knight dbe ra 2021. Ruby loftus screwing a breechring is a 1943 painting by the british artist laura knight depicting a young woman, ruby loftus working at an industrial lathe cutting the screw of a breechring for a bofors antiaircraft gun. Knight was a painter in the figurative, realist tradition, who embraced english impressionism. During her lifetime dame laura knight was one of the most successful and.
In the first half of the century she was one of the most highly regarded of british artists and in 1936 she became the first woman to be created a royal academician since the original women members angelica kauffmann and mary moser. This is a detail of dame laura knight s painting of lamorna valley in cornwall. This autumn an exhibition of knight s drawings opens at. Heather whatleys new book laura knight in the malverns is now well established on the bookshelves. Apr 08, 2011 ruby loftus screwing a breechring 1943 is a classic propaganda portrait by laura knight, showing a second world wartime role model for young women. May 29, 2020 dame laura knight s paintings of gypsy wagons, horses, and ww2. In 1939 zelma katin was a 40yearold married housewife who had been unsuccessfully seeking work for all of her married life. Welcome to the official dame laura knight website dame.
When one examines the book on women artists produced by the american national museum of. A while ago i posted on my blog a guest post from clare harvey about the night raid and its historical elements. Dame laura knight, nee johnson, dbe ra rws 4 august 1877 7 july 1970 was an. The contemporary mildenhall sketch book on display close by is so. Laura knight autograph letter to miss winifred barrows discussing her literary ambitions by knight dame laura,18771970. The second world war as seen through the laura knight.
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