Diary extracts for January 1949
1st Jan 1949:
Painting all day trying to finish The Dancing Men [Dancing Men (1948)]
2nd Jan 1949:
Queen Mary aground in the gale off Cherbourg
3rd Jan 1949:
Letter from Daniels suggesting I should teach one day a week at Camberwell. After train fare and income tax not much left.
6th Jan 1949:
Working all day on repainting the larger version of The Dreamer in the Cornfield . . . Will have to be left in an unfinished state as there are much more important things to do.
7th Jan 1949:
Painting all day on the old Devon Landscape which has proved such a teaser.
10th Jan 1949:
Death of Tommy Handley [popular comedian known widely through his BBC radio programme]
I doubt whether Churchill himself could get as much publicity and indeed it is a loss that will be felt by millions including myself.
11th Jan 1949:
Took canvases to Redfern for March show. Press photographer snapped me looking at the Paul Nash show there.
13th Jan 1949:
Musing about the St Marie picture again! [La Fête des Saintes Maries de la Mer (1948)]
15th Jan 1949:
Started the picture probably to be called Mariner Dances (20x24) Finished on the 29th January.
22nd Jan 1949:
H.H.Newton rang up to say he thought the Redfern Gallery dishonest. He said they sold a picture of his to a Scotsman for £25 but told him they had sold it for £15. I can’t understand this, and shall be glad to hear the result of his enquiries. I can’t believe that Nan Kivell would get up to any such nonsense.
29th Jan 1949:
Letter from Nan Kivell enclosing note from Newton about the sale of his picture for £16 instead of £25. As I thought, the full £16 was paid to HHN, being two thirds of £25. NK wants to know whether HHN has been talking to other people this way. I hope N isn’t going to get into a mental state. It would make things very awkward.
30th Jan 1949:
In the afternoon started Crispin working on a large chunk of teak to carve into a ship. I also had an idea I wanted to carve a high relief on a grand bit of wood we found on the Forest last year. Oh for a bit more time!
30th Jan 1949:
Started painting of Jonah 20x24