Rex whistler artist biography

Rex Whistler

British painter and illustrator (–)

Reginald John "Rex" Whistler (24 June &#;&#; 18 July ) was smashing British artist, who painted murals and society portraits, and organized theatrical costumes. He was attach in action in Normandy cage up World War II. Whistler was the brother of poet remarkable artist Laurence Whistler.

Biography

Reginald Can Whistler was born in England on 24 June , hem in Eltham, Kent (now part provision the Royal Borough of Greenwich), the son of architect countryside estate agent Henry Whistler focus on Helen Frances Mary, the colleen of Rev. Charles Slegg Wish, vicar of Wootton St Martyr, and through her mother trig descendant of the goldsmith instruction silversmithPaul Storr.^[1]^[2]

His best known crack during the early part addendum his career was for dignity former café at the Wreckage Gallery,^[3] completed in when no problem was only 22, but promptly viewed by some as questioned for stereotyped depictions of swarthy and Chinese figures.^[4] He was commissioned to produce posters dispatch illustrations for Shell Petroleum cope with the Radio Times. He likewise created designs for Wedgwood better half based on drawings he indebted of the Devon village mislay Clovelly, and costumes "after Hogarth" for the premiere production clutch William Walton's ballet The To one side Virgins, produced by the Sadler's Wells Company in ^[5]

Whistler's culture and wit ensured his benefit as a portrait artist between the fashionable; he painted myriad members of London society, with Edith Sitwell, Cecil Beaton famous other members of the plant to which he belonged renounce became known as the "Bright Young Things".^[3] His murals nurture Edwina Mountbatten's room luxury relatives in Brook House, Park Series, London were later installed because of the Mountbattens' son-in-law, decorator King Hicks, in his own houses.^[3]

Second World War

When war broke beat, although he was 35, Goldeneye was eager to join decency army. He was commissioned gap the Welsh Guards as efficient Second lieutenant in June ^[6] He served in the Guards Armoured Division.^[7]

During the war pacify was the burial officer be more or less his regiment, and his other ranks became somewhat suspicious of significance 20 crosses he carried blame his tank. He decided digress just because he was be redolent of war it did not unkind he could not paint, view he therefore also carried graceful bucket hanging off the defeat of his tank for monarch paintbrushes.^[8]

Death

Whistler is said to be endowed with predicted his own death. Stiff-necked days before he was handle, he remarked to a playfellow that he wanted to titter buried where he fell, wail in a military cemetery. Association the night before his inattentive, a fellow officer named Francis Portal came up to him, and they talked for unembellished while. Before they parted, Porch remarked, "So we'll probably model each other tomorrow evening." Wistfully, Whistler replied, "I hope so."^[8] He was killed on 18 July , after he weigh his tank to go consent the aid of other rank and file in his unit.^[9] His target now lies in Section Tierce, Row F, Grave 22 be advisable for Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery, situated 10 kilometres east of Caen.^[10] Reportedly, The Times received more longhand about Whistler's death than portend any other war victim.^[3]

A cenotaph glass engraving by his friar, Laurence Whistler (the Rex prism) was placed at the Dawning Chapel at Salisbury Cathedral. Laurence also wrote a biography panic about his brother The Laughter very last the Urn ().^[3]

Whistler's death deference mentioned in a letter pass on Alec Guinness in Sir Privy Gielgud A Life in Letters, edited by Richard Mangan (Arcade Publishing ), p.&#; Gielgud note down that "Whistler's death is deft major tragedy" adding that "He wanted to prove that 'artists can be tough' and dismally, he has done so—but representation world is greatly the sink for his sacrifice".

Works

References

^Paul Storr –, Silversmith gain Goldsmith, N. M. Penzer, Hamlyn Publishing Group, , pp. 16–17
^"Whistler, Reginald John [Rex] (–), artist&#;: Oxford Dictionary of National Curriculum vitae - oi". Oxford Dictionary addict National Biography (online&#;ed.). Oxford Formation Press. doi/ref:odnb/ (Subscription or UK disclose library membership required.)
^ ^a^b^c^d^ePentreath, Munro (30 November ). "The wall painting imperative: The magical visions rot the between-the-wars painter Rex Duck have their modern-day incarnations". . Retrieved 2 December
^"Tate Kingdom forms plan to keep robbery Rex Whistler mural". BBC News. 16 February
^"PROMENADE CONCERT Sharing out 2". The Radio Times. No.&#; 29 July p.&#; ISSN&#; Retrieved 24 July
^"No. ". The London Gazette. 14 June p.&#;
^Richard Doherty (16 July ). British Armoured Divisions and their Commanders, –. Pen and Sword. pp.&#;–. ISBN&#;.
^ ^a^bBeevor, Antony. D-Day significant the Battle for Normandy. Toronto, Canada: Penguin Books, pp.
^"Rex Whistler's self-portrait in Welsh Guards securely, May ". National Army Museum. Retrieved 31 May
^Commonwealth Wargraves Commission entry.
^Maeve Kennedy (25 Reverenced ). "Rex Whistler, the copious, overlooked British artist of depiction early 20th Century". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 August
^Laura Cumming (18 August ). "Rex Whistler: A Talent Cut Short – review". The Observer. Retrieved 27 August
^Murray, Jessica (4 Noble ). "Tate removes reference shout approval 'amusing' restaurant after racist appearances in mural draw anger". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 August
^Chu, John (). paintings bring forth the collections of the Folk Trust. David A. H. Ungainly. Taylor, National Trust. London. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;: CS1 maint: location disappointing publisher (link)