Dismissed by modernists for her lack of interest in formal experiment, knight s insistent realism made her. Most of laura s works are genre paintings about theaters, dance companies and, of course, circuses for which she received a lot of recognition. 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. Portraits paperback august 31, 2014 by rosie broadley author, laura knight artist 4. 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. However, her rejection of modernism and her association with the mainstream led to a decline in her reputation, and since her death she has, to some extent, fallen into obscurity. Laura knight jadczyk is the author of the secret history of the world 4. Such catalogue will be the worldwide recognised authority on the artist s lives and works. Laura knightjadczyk author of the secret history of the.
A life covers her long productive career and probes the myths and fictions that have and continue to be woven around the artist. Knight, laura author penguin books publisher object title dame laura knight. The drawings of the pioneering painter laura knight 18771970 in the collection of the royal academy confirm her exceptional gift for capturing lifes multiplicity and movement. Left, laura knight, three clowns, c1930, oil on canvas, 76 x 64 cm, city museum, leicester, uk, and right, a sketch of joe craston. Eiderdown books publishing books about female artists. Influenced by impressionism and the newlyn school in cornwall, knight s subjectmatter is contemporary without being avantgarde. 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. Laura knight is best remembered for being the first female artist to be elected a full member of the royal academy in 1936 200 years after its establishment. John croft, laura knight trust and great nephew to the artist the authors muchanticipated biography of dame laura knight appears at a time of renewed interest in the artist. Sitter in 34 portraits artist associated with 3 portraits knight studied at nottingham school of art in 1900, and there met harold knight. It was a period characterized by norman garstin as one of opulent colour and sensuous gaiety norman garstin, the art of harold and laura knight, the studio, vol. Oil paint and grease paint autobiography of laura knight.
Laura knight was brought up in impoverished circumstances, her father died early in her life 1883, learnt to draw and paint at an early age from her mother. A few women artists continue to appear in the nomination books, such as henrietta rae in 1896, but it is only after the end of the first world war. Autobiography of laura knight by knight, laura and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Her mother charlotte johnson taught art and had to give private tuition to help provide essential housekeeping monies. She had a gift for entering the lives of the performers and was friends with many of them. This long overdue reappraisal of an outstanding and pioneerin g female artist features over 35 of her finest works. Figures at the fish market, blue crayon unsigned 20cm x 15cm provenance. Welcome to the wonderful circus of dame laura knight. The first female artist to be elected a full royal academician, and with a career that spanned seven decades, knight was one of the most. At the school of art, laura met one of the most promising students, harold knight, then. She was made dame in 1929 and in 1965 she became the first woman to have a largescale retrospective at the royal academy. She had a varied and colorful life and this book sheds light on her extraordinary career for the first time and explores her deeper character which often revealed itself in her paintings. Dame laura knight, to those old enough to admire her work, is usually remembered for her theatre scenes. The previous year, knight had been elected as a member and her exhibits of 1910, including a girl reading, revealed the confidence she now felt.
On august 2 nd, the uks express reported that british special forces were dressing up as isis jihadis and conducting operations in iraq and syria. Laura knight harold knight catalogue raisonne help. Dame laura knight biography dame laura knight on artnet. This book demonstrates knights impressive skills as a painter and draftsman and her compassionate. From 1903 she exhibited at the royal academy and in the same year she married the artist harold knight 1874 1961, changing her surname from johnson.
Inf3108 food production horsedrawn plough, land girl artist laura knight. Fan account of laura knight, an english artist who worked in oils, watercolours, etching, engraving and drypoint. Literature on dame laura knight dbe ra rws and harold knight ra. Laura knights art is superb and her life very interesting. Art books film photographs posters private papers sound souvenirs and ephemera war artist archive. The artists portraits from the 1920s, 30s and 40s, so long out of fashion, make a fascinating exhibition at the national portrait gallery. During her lifetime dame laura knight was one of the most successful and popular british artists. Laura knight the cruel sea oil on canvas, 64 x 76 cm. Art uk is the online home for every public collection in the uk.
Informed, accurate, wellpresented and, above all, entertaining, this is a book that will generate much pleasure. Born laura johnson at long eaton, derbyshire educated at brincliffe, nottingham. Object category books production date 1987 creator. The author does more than merely draw the solid lines of dame laura s professional and public identity for the reader, she fills in the background, expresses the light and colour of laura knight s vibrant personality and, by also exploring the darker shades of her character, gives this portrait of the artist depth and perspective. It was a finely written account of the trial, by ann and john tusa. The artists market and biography, and their works prices and indices. After marrying in 1903, they joined an artists colony at staithes, yorkshire, before moving in 1908 to newlyn, cornwall. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable javascript. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. I first saw laura knight s nuremberg trial on the cover of a book, one published many years ago. Dame laura knight, dbe ra rws was an english artist who worked in oils, watercolours, etching, engraving and drypoint. Knight was a painter in the figurative, realist tradition and who embraced english impressionism. See more ideas about knight, artist and english artists.
On the right, granny smith is dressed ready to go to ascot. Charming vintage 1966 headed letter from dame laura knight a book of drawings with a forward by charles marriott and descriptive notes. 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. Artwork page for spring, dame laura knight, 191620 knight started painting in her teens in her home town of nottingham to help support her family. Cornwall in the twenties and thirties was a retreat for for impecunious painters where the light was bright and free and the accommodation affordable. The painting portrays the dock of courtroom 600 in nurembergs palace of justice.
She took private lessons in art from her mother, and then attended nottingham school of art aged thirteen under wilson foster. Laura knight portraits is at the national portrait gallery, london, until october 20, after which it transfers to the laing art gallery, newcastle 2 november 2016 february 2014, and then to plymouth art gallery 1 march. She was a household name but, after her death in 1970, she slowly became forgotten and her work overlooked. The artists works above whilst shown in alphabetical order may also be viewed by categories e. Dame laura knight 1877 1970 was one of the leading british painters of the twentieth century. Laura knight british 18771970 laura knight,painter, print maker and author. An impressionist painter and a member of the newlyn school of art, she was the first woman artist to be made a dame of the british empire.
Laura knight paintings for sale artist richard green. Laura knight, old gypsy woman, 1938, oil on canvas, private collection right. In 1903 she had her first painting accepted by the royal. Dame laura knight, nee johnson, dbe ra rws 4 august 1877 7 july 1970 was an. Laura knights portraits were once derided as vulgar, but a new show at the national portrait gallery reveals their sensuousness, writes tessa. Laura knight, the gypsy, c1937, oil on canvas, 61 x 41 cm, tate gallery, london, uk. Laura knight 18771970 was the first woman artist to be made a dame of. At the age of laura joined the nottingham school of art and was probably the youngest pupil they ever enrolled. This is in part as her work was founded on realism and naturalism and did not fit into the late c20th art world where abstraction and experimentation were viewed more. Laura knight was an excellent portraitist born in england on august 4, 1877. Discover artworks, explore venues and meet artists. Laura knight and harold knight works dame laura knight.
A book of drawings, with an introduction by charles marriott. In her long career, knight was among the most successful and popular painters in britain. Prices at auctions for drawingwatercolor artworks by laura knight. Welcome to the official dame laura knight website dame. Yet dame laura knight is a very important figure in modern british art.
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