tomquigleyshowcase.co.uk/The Living Palette

Tom Quigley’s Image and Word Showcase Home

Painter, sculptor and writer

Born 1935

Art Hammersmith

The Living Palette

From Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/8 – 1543)

to Sir Peter Blake (born 1932)

Holbein first found fame in his native Germany, when he illustrated Erasmus’s In Praise of Folly. In Tudor times, he visited England bearing letters of introduction to Sir Thomas More. In turn, Sir Thomas introduced Holbein to the court of King Henry VIII. The great artist painted the King and Anne Boleyn. He may well have passed through Hammersmith either on land or by river, en route to or from Hampton Court. Both the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery have splendid masterpieces from Holbein’s sable brush.

Peter Thomas Blake was born in Dartford, Kent in 1932. He studied at Gravesend College and the Royal College of Art. With his sable brush, Peter Blake has no peers.

With both his pop art studies and collage work, he has long been an exhibitor, nationally and internationally. His Marilyn Monroe studies and cover design of Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (the Beatles 1967) are examples of these skills. Peter Blake was knighted in October 2002. Sir Peter is a peoples’ artist who has well and truly nailed his colours to the popular mast. Books about him, including PB, (Natalie Rudd) and others may be purchased from numerous sources, including Amazon.com.

On the eighth of August this year I shall have lived 57 years in my host country, England, having left my birth-place in South Armagh. I have met many artists; Noel Sheridan, born in Dublin, the son of Ireland’s great comedian, Cecil, is due many thanks from me.

Here in Hammersmith in the coming months I intend to work for art as a volunteer, side by side with the groups who do their best for a better Hammersmith. In the main they are not properly thanked for what they do. Art Hammersmith’s number one initiative will be to suggest the holding of an Arts Ball. Art for the People!

In this way, the people will be able to enjoy the social dimension that used to be the province of the idle rich of yesteryear.

These days, potential art buyers are welcomed by the great auction houses. The fine art trade is a very important business for the commerce of the nation. Henry Wyndham and Mark Poltimor are Sotheby’s chairmen. Charles Cator and Viscount Lindley are Christie’s chairmen. Rupert Brook is the chairman of Brooks Bonham. In my time I have done business with all of these auction houses. While I did not make very much money, the knowledge gained in pursuit of this business has been its own reward. If you have time, take a look around our auction houses and galleries.

23 February 2009

TomQuigley@ymail.com