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1920s Hyde Park (look for the artist ... he's now 103)
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent18.09.09
A painting by the oldest living alumnus of the Royal College of Art has gone on show there this week, 80 years after it was produced.
The view of Hyde Park by Stanley Lewis, now 103, is being exhibited by the dealer Paul Liss at the annual 20/21 British Art Fair.
The large-scale work, left, was Lewis's entry for the 1929 Prix de Rome competition in his final year at the college. The painter, who lives with his daughter in Yorkshire, features in the painting. He can be seen reclining centre-stage with his sketching bag to hand, in the park that acted as a substitute for the countryside of his native Wales where he spent much time. It also includes his then girlfriend, Muriel Pemberton, who went on to be head of fashion at St Martin's.
The fair, which is in its 22nd year and specialises in contemporary British art, runs until Sunday. Admission is £8.
Reader views (3)
I don't know when the comment about Stanley's death was made but certainly he was alive and well about 2 months ago ( i.e. about July 2009 )
- John Howarth, Oldham
I visited the art fair on the 16th especially to see this painting – I wasn’t disappointed.
Sadly, I didn’t know at the time that Stanley had passed away, and his funeral was on the previous day.
I’m now looking forward to an exhibition of his work which takes place next summer.
- Gethin Evans, Stockport, England
Dear Stanley
You are wonderful - the Hyde Park painting is just magnificent -
so many people had gathered around it yesterday to see it at the Royal College of Art, back where you painted it - Sarah xx
- Sarah Flynn, Cambridge, UK
