The Gentle Author At Bishopsgate Institute
Bishopsgate Institute
For anyone who missed my lectures on the subject of EAST END VERNACULAR, Artists who painted London’s East End streets in the 20th century last year, you have a chance to catch me at Bishopsgate Institute where I shall be speaking at 7pm on Wednesday January 17th, showing the paintings and telling the stories of the artists.
My presentation includes work by John Allin, S. R. Badmin, Pearl Binder, Dorothy Bishop, James Boswell, Roland Collins, Alfred Daniels, Anthony Eyton, Doreen Fletcher, Geoffrey Fletcher, Barnett Freedman, Noel Gibson, Charles Ginner, Lawrence Gowing, Harry T. Harmer, Elwin Hawthorne, Rose Henriques, Dan Jones, Nathaniel Kornbluth,Leon Kossoff, James Mackinnon, Cyril Mann, Jock McFadyen, Ronald Morgan, Grace Oscroft, Peri Parkes, Henry Silk, Harold Steggles, Walter Steggles & Albert Turpin.
John Allin – Spitalfields Market, 1972
S.R Badmin – Wapping Pier Head, 1935
Pearl Binder – Aldgate, 1932 (Courtesy of Bishopsgate Institute)
Dorothy Bishop – Looking towards the City of London from Morpeth School, 1961
James Boswell – Petticoat Lane (Courtesy of David Buckman)
Roland Collins – Brushfield St, Spitalfields, 1951-60 (Courtesy of Museum of London)
Alfred Daniels – Gramophone Man on Wentworth St
Anthony Eyton , Christ Church Spitalfields, 1980
Doreen Fletcher – Turner’s Rd, 1998
Geoffrey Fletcher – D.Bliss, Alderney Rd 1979 (Courtesy of Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives)
Barnett Freedman– Street Scene. 1933-39 (Courtesy of Tate Gallery)
Noel Gibson – Hessel St (Courtesy of Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives)
Charles Ginner – Bethnal Green Allotment, 1947 (Courtesy of Manchester City Art Gallery)
Lawrence Gowing – Mare St, 1937
Harry T. Harmer – St Botolph’s Without Aldgate, 1963 (Courtesy of Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives)
Elwin Hawthorne – Trinity Green Almshouses, 1935
Rose Henriques – Coronation Celebrations in Challis Court, 1937 (Courtesy of Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives)
Nathaniel Kornbluth – Butcher’s Row, Aldgate 1934 (Courtesy of Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives)
Dan Jones – Brick Lane, 1977
Leon Kossoff – Christ Church Spitalfields, 1987
James Mackinnon – Twilight at London Fields
Cyril Mann – Christ Church seen over bombsites from Redchurch St, 1946 (Courtesy of Piano Nobile Gallery)
Jock McFadyen – Aldgate East
Ronald Morgan – Salvation Army Band Bow, 1978 (Courtesy of Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives)
Grace Oscroft – Old Houses in Bow, 1934
Peri Parkes – House in the East, 1980-81
Henry Silk – Snow, Rounton Rd, Bow
Harold Steggles – Old Ford Rd c.1932
Walter Steggles – Old Houses, Bethnal Green 1929
Albert Turpin, Columbia Market, Bethnal Green
Take a look at some of the artists featured in East End Vernacular
Harold & Walter Steggles, Artists
“A fragment of the riches flowing from a continued fascination with London’s topography” – Evening Standard
“Harvested from the thirties to the present day, Spitalfields Life’s gorgeous collection of East End paintings is more knees-up than misery-fest” – Hackney Citizen
Click here to order a copy of EAST END END VERNACULAR for £25
I have received my copy of East End Vernacular and it now has an honoured place in my library here in Karkur, Israel. I envy all you fortunate people who willattend the lecture at the Bishopsgate Institute later this month by TGA. I’m sure it will be a sell out. Enjoy and learn.
My best wishes from a rainy and cold Israel.
Melvyn Brooks
I particularly liked the picture by Barnett Freedman ‘A Street Scene’ 1933 Tate Gallery. Because its frozen in time, so different from the rest. John a bus pass poet
Impeccable timing of today’s post having seen the amazing East London Group ‘Mile End to Mayfair’ exhibition at Southampton City Art Gallery just yesterday, featuring many of the artists you mentioned and pictured. (And indeed some of the actual paintings you posted).
They are such evocative paintings of this vanishing, much-altered area of London; it was also interesting to see images of other parts of the country they visited – Northumberland, Sussex, Dorset and Essex. Also the parallels with Ravilious, Nash and the Bloomsbury Group.
They deserve greater exposure and appreciation.
Your book is on my birthday wish list!
I’m delighted that the Bishopsgate Institute is hosting this lecture by TGA. Some time ago events like this were commonplace at the Institute. I hope this is the start of a new trend.
Another opportunity to say: This is a stunning volume. If you’ve been following the serialized stories of the artists here (of course you have!) it is pure luxury to have ALL of the artwork between two beautifully-designed covers. You will find your favorites, and re-discover new ones.
This book has been put together with a dedication that absolutely shines on each page. The stories are collected respectfully and lovingly, and the artwork has been arranged in an astute and always-sensitive way. In short, this book allows the reader to discover a curated community of remarkable souls who also happened to be gifted distinctive artists.
London’s own, proudly presented. Take a bow, GA.
Wonderful art, a gift to all your Gentle Readers! One thing I do wish for — when possible, please note the medium. Saturated watercolor and oil on board look much the same — to me, at least — when reproduced in a small photograph.
I never miss this blog and am rereading Brian Selnick’s The Marvels and seeing everything through Spitalfieldslife eyes.
I am snowbound in upstate New York, so shall not attend the lecture. But, all the best to you and your guests for the evening.
As an old East Ender now living in the U .S. former Spitalfield Girls High School, and loved the old Spitalfield Market where men carried baskets of fruit or vegetables on the heads. My friend Joycey Kennel and I used to roam through the East End Museum, forget th e name also Barmy Park. WE poassed street artists drawing chalked pictures on the pavements. I am enchanted by the photos and paintings. However, why was nothing of Jewish East London ever presented. In the twenties to post war, there was a large Jewish (also docker and Irish) population. There was a Yiddish Club in Whitechapel. I lived on Vallance Road, Columbia Road, my granparents near Whitechapel and on Wilkes St. My grandpanrents and parents had shops, there were many synagogues one of note from the Sephardic community. There was also anti-Semitism see the Cable Street Battle described in my book, Cockney Girl. I have photos of this battle in my book. I personally knew Fishman. However, I enjjoy your depictions and wish u had a name. Why does the Gentle Author gives no name. Is he a ghost?
Gilda Haber, PhD
I am unhappy that I live in the US and cannot attend this lecture. Is there a podcast or something like that which I could listen to?
Highly original idea to come up with this but to actually take this seed of an idea through to successful publication is a real acheivement in anyones eyes.
Thank you TGA.
A couple of the images took me back a few years.
‘Petticoat Lane’ – Dad took me there as a kid in the early 1960’s. Looking back I think it was as an education into how some people have to live their lives.
‘House in the East’ – Just like my nan’s house 50+ years ago with it’s outside toilet and back yard.
‘Aldgate East’ – I passed through regularly, though it was usually packed with people. The picture looks like a train will appear any minute.
Thank you TGA and best wishes for your forthcoming event. Ade.