linda by henry marvell carr ra rp rba
oil on canvas layered on board
320mm high x 270mm wide
a very early portrait by henry marvell carr ra rp rca ( 16 august 1894 - 16 march 1970 ) likely to be the first portrait he ever exhibited.
the portrait was painted in 1923 for a prestigious royal college of art show and competition for the highly competitive rome art scholarship. his fellow student finalists were henry moore and barbara hepworth. the prize given by gwynne jones. the sitter is very likely to be henrys first child.
henry marvell carr was born in hunslett in 1894. he attended leeds modern school and then at the age of eighteen, leeds art school. in 1914 he was about to enter his final year of his diploma, when war was declared. henry volunteered for the army and served in france with the royal field artillery. he kept sketch books of his experiences at the front which he would send home to his fiancé olive rundle. he was one of the few to survive the entire war. in 1920 he married olive and resumed his studies at art school winning a place at the royal college of art in 1921 along with fellow leeds students henry moore and barbara hepworth.
henry graduated from the rca in 1922. he pursued his love of art, painting portraits and landscapes, his work regually shown at the royal academy. he taught at beckenham art college for 18 years leaving as its principle.
with the outbreak world war 2 henry was accepted as an official war artist. initially he painted scenes on the home front. in 1943 he was sent to north africa where he painted the portraits of high ranking officers and generals such as eisenhower, alexander etc.,even fellow artist edward ardizzione, but also of regular soldiers, sailors and airmen, he was passionate that the life and work of every day servicemen should be recorded.
the imperial war museum now has over 70 of henrys war time paintings in its collection. the national maritime museum owning henry carrs famous portrait of the royal navy telegraphist maurice alan easton.
when peace was declared henry resumed his work as an artist and was in strong demand for his portraits. he won many commissions of eminent people of the time, such as princess margaret who he painted wearing her st. johns ambulance uniform. he was commissioned to paint a mural at salts mill depicting the work of the mill workers .the mural took two years to complete.
henry published books on painting and even pioneered a tv art program demonstrating painting techniques. henry exhibited throughout his life.
he was elected an associate of the royal academy in 1957 and a full member in 1966.
