Comments on: John Dempsey’s Street Portraits

By: Bernard Lewis

Bernard Lewis — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 10:19:43 +0000

Wow! Wonderful.

By: Val Bott

Val Bott — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 10:55:42 +0000

These are so affectionate – wonderful images, how on earth did you find them!

By: Mike Puddephatt

Mike Puddephatt — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 22:55:10 +0000

Love these pictures. Bring the period to life.

By: Carolyn Badcock

Carolyn Badcock — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 03:08:44 +0000

Judy Sumray’s comments leave me speechless too, gentle author. How superb that your blog can so reach out to any one of us, even at 94 with these magnificent studies of folk at work.
1000 Thank-yous from Australia.

By: Frances Happ

Frances Happ — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 23:44:09 +0000

Those faces! Thank you.

By: pauline taylor

pauline taylor — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 23:28:44 +0000

Wonderful, I wonder if more can be found out about the two people from Colchester depicted here, Sharp, the orange man, and Mary Croker, the mat woman. As the painting are dated 1823 it may be possible to identify them, and I would love to display them in my shop, I know that many customers would be fascinated. I wonder if any of the other paintings relate to Colchester, I shall really enjoy following this up so thank you GA for alerting me to the existence of these treasures.

By: Saba

Saba — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 22:39:00 +0000

I valued these paintings for their lack of sentimentality. The tattered clothing, the shoes with holes, and especially the expressions on the faces — the artist had no romantic notions about the streets of London. If I could read anyone’s mind — but, of course, I cannot — I would say that the poor lived with the realization that life’s circumstances can trap even the most refined soul.

When you, GA, say you see the same faces in London today, I am not sure what you mean. Those are British faces, so perhaps you see a resemblance. Or, maybe you see the diversity. Do you see people who look equally resigned? I hope not.

By: Hetty Startup

Hetty Startup — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 19:44:32 +0000

These are quite extraordinary. I sent them on to my brother who lives in Essex and he thought they were great, too.

By: Gary Arber

Gary Arber — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 17:51:10 +0000

The eyes seem to stare right at you, you get the impression that they do not like you very much.
Fantastic work !
Gary

By: Laura Williamson

Laura Williamson — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 17:32:04 +0000

These are quite wonderful, he has put such care into capturing the faces. It looks like a couple at least may have had advanced cataract; I had mine “done” earlier this year (at a fairly young age) and they were not “visible” but I was really struggling. I can only wonder at how difficult it must have been for others to cope on the ill lit streets of London with no hope of improvement.

Thank you GA and *waves* to Judy Sumray-so glad you too have discovered this wonderful blog!