Diary extracts for Apr to May 1946

1st Apr 1946:

Left Landscape with Barge to dry a bit.

Started again on Elephant picture.

Making drastic alterations, simplifying.

I find I may be too much occupied with technical problems and must broaden out. Try to get the feeling of wonder, how else can one expect to move a beholder if not moved oneself?

3rd Apr 1946:

Up to London by car

with the Eton picture on top, frame and all!

25th Apr 1946:

At the RA

The Eton picture well hung, but as usual looks small and spotty.

26th Apr 1946:

Electing ARAs.

I was amused at Rushbury standing over us ‘reds’, saying we couldn’t vote for Bawden. “He’ll never send any work in. Stanley was the same, and he pissed on us at the first opportunity."  

Queen Charlotte looked gravely down.

9th May 1946:

Richard had been persistently unwell for some time.

. . . [Dr Brierly] came today and had a good look at me. He seemed to think it was either my lungs or teeth or both. So I am to be x-rayed.

9th May 1946:

Started painting Escort-carrier with Rainbow (16x20) for George Barnes

10th May 1946:

Vincent Massey liked the Eton picture. Asks Richard

to paint Balliol College Oxford with all the men and women from the services who came and had short studies there during the War. We agreed on the price of £300 without frame.

13th May 1946:

x-rayed at Lyndhurst. Dr. Brierly thinks teeth had better come out.

17th May 1946:

Eton picture reproduced in this week’s ‘Listener’.

25th May 1946:

Camille Pisarro’s letters to his son

How I admire him at the age of 56 championing Seurat and changing his own style, and losing friends because of it. But he was right.

26th May 1946:

Started “The Man with a Sword” (50x30)

It is going to be a tough nut. Caroline asked if it was a Cave Man!

28th May 1946:

Mavis to London for meeting at Albert Hall of delegates for Women’s Institutes . . .  very good, not too parochial. The Queen was there.