Isabel Nicholas: Difference between revisions
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'''Isabel Rawsthorne''' (1912 – 1992) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Model (art)|artists' model]] and [[Painting|painter]]. She is better known as the subject of paintings and sculptures by such prominent artists as [[Pablo Picasso|Picasso]], [[Alberto Giacometti|Giacometti]] and [[André Derain|Derain]] than for her work as a painter. She was romantically linked with many members of the artistic [[Bohemianism|bohemian]] society in which she flourished, including [[Francis Bacon (painter)|Francis Bacon]] and [[Georges Bataille]], and was married thrice: to the journalist [[Sefton Delmer]], and to the composers [[Constant Lambert]] and [[Alan Rawsthorne]]. |
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'''Isabel Rawsthorne''' (1912 - 1992) ''née'' '''Isabel Nicholas''', also known as '''Isabel Lambert''', was a model and painter. |
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== Life == |
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Isabel Nicholas was born in the east end of London, but brought up in Liverpool where she studied at the Liverpool School of Art. [[Jacob Epstein]] used her as a model in the early thirties (the bronze bust "Isabel" 1933). Her first husband was [[Sefton Delmer]], a journalist. They lived in Paris, and there she became a model for [[Alberto Giacometti |Giacometti]] and [[Pablo Picasso|Picasso]]. By 1945 this relationship had broken down. Her third husband was composer [[Constant Lambert]]. She painted set scenery for his last work, the ballet ''Tiresias'', created for the [[Festival of Britain]]. They married in 1947, but he died in 1951. In 1952 she married another composer [[Alan Rawsthorne]], a drinking friend of Constant Lambert. Isabel then became a model for [[Francis Bacon (painter)|Francis Bacon]]. He was a noted homosexual, yet according to ''[[Paris Match]]'', Francis Bacon said "You know, I also made love to Isabel Rawsthorne, a very beautiful woman who was [[André Derain|Derain]]'s model and [[Georges Bataille]]'s girlfriend.". His most famous portrait of her is "Three Studies of Isabel Rawsthorne" (1966). According to Norman Lebrecht, she "matched her husbands for drink, swore like a [[navvy]] and was a fine painter besides". Her early works do not survive, but she was painting in a neo-Romantic style while married to Constant Lambert. She painted skeletons of birds, and later ballet dancers. |
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She was born '''Isabel Nicholas''' in the [[East End of London]], the daughter of a [[Captain (nautical)|master mariner]], but raised in [[Liverpool]], where she studied at the Liverpool School of Art. Her early works do not survive. In the early 1930s, sculptor [[Jacob Epstein]] used her as a model, notably for his bronze [[Bust (sculpture)|bust]] ''Isabel'' (1933). |
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Her first husband was [[Sefton Delmer]], a British journalist. They lived in [[Paris]], where she modeled for [[Alberto Giacometti|Giacometti]] and [[Pablo Picasso|Picasso]]. The marriage had deteriorated by 1945. |
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In 1947, Isabel married composer [[Constant Lambert]], for whose final work, the ballet ''Tiresias'' (created for the [[Festival of Britain]]), she painted [[Scenic painting|set scenery]]. During her marriage to Lambert, she was painting in a [[Neo-romanticism|Neo-romantic]] style. Lambert died a few years later, in 1951. |
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She married another composer, [[Alan Rawsthorne]], in 1952, the year after Lambert's death. Rawsthorne and Lambert had been drinking friends. |
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Isabel then became a model for [[Francis Bacon (painter)|Francis Bacon]], who was a noted [[Homosexuality|homosexual]], yet is quoted by ''[[Paris Match]]'' as having said, "You know, I also made love to Isabel Rawsthorne, a very beautiful woman who was [[André Derain|Derain]]'s model and [[Georges Bataille]]'s girlfriend." Bacon's most famous portrait of her is ''Three Studies of Isabel Rawsthorne'' (1966). |
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According to [[Norman Lebrecht]], she "matched her husbands for drink, swore like a [[navvy]] and was a fine painter besides". She painted skeletons of birds, and later ballet dancers. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 03:36, 29 August 2008
Isabel Rawsthorne (1912 – 1992) was a British artists' model and painter. She is better known as the subject of paintings and sculptures by such prominent artists as Picasso, Giacometti and Derain than for her work as a painter. She was romantically linked with many members of the artistic bohemian society in which she flourished, including Francis Bacon and Georges Bataille, and was married thrice: to the journalist Sefton Delmer, and to the composers Constant Lambert and Alan Rawsthorne.
Life
She was born Isabel Nicholas in the East End of London, the daughter of a master mariner, but raised in Liverpool, where she studied at the Liverpool School of Art. Her early works do not survive. In the early 1930s, sculptor Jacob Epstein used her as a model, notably for his bronze bust Isabel (1933).
Her first husband was Sefton Delmer, a British journalist. They lived in Paris, where she modeled for Giacometti and Picasso. The marriage had deteriorated by 1945.
In 1947, Isabel married composer Constant Lambert, for whose final work, the ballet Tiresias (created for the Festival of Britain), she painted set scenery. During her marriage to Lambert, she was painting in a Neo-romantic style. Lambert died a few years later, in 1951.
She married another composer, Alan Rawsthorne, in 1952, the year after Lambert's death. Rawsthorne and Lambert had been drinking friends.
Isabel then became a model for Francis Bacon, who was a noted homosexual, yet is quoted by Paris Match as having said, "You know, I also made love to Isabel Rawsthorne, a very beautiful woman who was Derain's model and Georges Bataille's girlfriend." Bacon's most famous portrait of her is Three Studies of Isabel Rawsthorne (1966).
According to Norman Lebrecht, she "matched her husbands for drink, swore like a navvy and was a fine painter besides". She painted skeletons of birds, and later ballet dancers.