Comments on: John Minton’s East End

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 16:51:46 +0000

Amazing talent, and very saddened by his short life, as happened to other talented people who didn’t always ‘fit the mould’

By: Cherub

Cherub — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 10:46:08 +0000

There is such talent in this work. I totally empathise with the frustration of being a gay man, as one of my very elderly friends is also from the era when it was still an offence. I read Minton’s biography on Wikipedia and was sad he took his own life. On another note, I have friends who live in the village where he was born but I don’t know if there is any acknowledgment of his talent there.

By: Sonia Murray

Sonia Murray — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 03:06:47 +0000

Minton’s Wapping, 1941 conveys the full horror of the Blitz and its bomb shocked survivors. This magnificent, dark painting belongs in the National Gallery. Are there more of this quality in the artist’s work?

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 15:31:14 +0000

Thank you, Sydney, for the Victoria Gallery (Bath) lead. I just spent a pleasant hour ‘walking’ through the virtual tour and two videos.
There are some powerful Minton works in that gallery exhibition. Valencia, and those huge canvases featuring male models are fantastic.
I’ll be re-visiting both this article, G.A., and the gallery before the tour is gone.

https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/events/freud-minton-ryan-unholy-trinity

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 12:39:50 +0000

Total mastery, on all fronts. Minton was the total package — a commercial artist gifted with a true sense of composition, balance, and flawless color selection. He blended those rare gifts with the distinctive skills of a fine artist; creating strong narratives and turning out singular views. A born story-teller.

Just take another look at the (perhaps) ink-and-wash cover for “The Leader / 1948”. Spend a moment studying the man in the window…….and I guarantee that face will remain with you all day.

Thank you, GA, for highlighting this masterful and prolific artist.

By: Kelly Holman

Kelly Holman — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 11:11:56 +0000

I went on from viewing this fantastic work to read your piece about Terry Scales where you included this quote: “A man who paints puts his heart on the wall and in that painting is the man’s life” – John Minton, 1951.

I also read Alfred Daniels’ comment about John Milton: ‘a lovely man, if only he hadn’t been so mixed up.’

I found it very moving to feel the truth of these comments in the work.

Thank you for all three fabulous pieces.

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 10:16:27 +0000

The Pool of London, London Transport painting has always been a favourite of mine. I was pleasantly surprised to see it on the wall of the Managing Director’s office of London Transport at their old 55 Broadway offices on a recent guided tour. Does anyone know if that is the original? On close inspection it appeared to be, but it might just have been a high quality print.

John’s biography ‘Dance ‘Til The Stars Come Down’ by Frances Spalding is a wonderful book about the man and his life and times. I can highly recommend it.

By: Sydney

Sydney — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 08:30:52 +0000

Great article. My father-in-law knew ‘Johnny’ Minton in Chelsea and also shared a flat with Roland Camberton, real name Henry Cohen, I introduced him to Iain Sinclair, who was researching East London writers for his book Rose Red Empire. I have always been a fan of Minton’s graphic work. There is an exhibition currently featuring him, Freud and Ryan at the Victoria Gallery in Bath.

By: Peter Hart

Peter Hart — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 08:29:35 +0000

I agree with Saba. Brilliant artist. Who died so tragically young.

By: Nicholas Sack

Nicholas Sack — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 07:45:06 +0000

Fabulous paintings by John Minton – such robust strength of design and colour. I recently read ‘Scamp’ by Roland Camberton, reissued in 2010 with an introduction by the great Iain Sinclair. It’s an exhilarating romp through Bloomsbury and Fleet Street in 1950 – highly recommended.