John Russell (art critic) facts for kids

John Russell CBE (born January 22, 1919 – died August 23, 2008) was an English art critic and journalist. He was known for his writing about art and culture, especially during his time at The Sunday Times and The New York Times.

Life and Career as an Art Critic

John Russell was born in Fleet, Hampshire, England, in 1919. He went to St Paul's School and then studied at Magdalen College in Oxford.

In 1940, he worked without pay at the Tate Gallery, an important art museum in London. However, he had to move away when the gallery was bombed during World War II. During the war, he worked for the Admiralty in Naval Intelligence. This is where he met Ian Fleming, who later created the James Bond stories. Fleming helped Russell get a job writing reviews for The Sunday Times newspaper. By 1950, Russell became the main art critic for the newspaper.

Later, in 1974, a famous art critic named Hilton Kramer from The New York Times hired John Russell. Russell became the chief art critic for The New York Times in 1982 and held that position until 1990.

Family Life

John Russell was married three times:

• He married Alexandrina, Countess Apponyi de Nagy-Appony, in 1945. They had one child, Lavinia. They divorced in 1951.
• In 1956, he married Vera Poliakoff, an artist and actress. They divorced in 1971. Vera passed away in 1992.
• He married Rosamond Bernier in 1975. Rosamond was a lecturer and started an art magazine called L'ŒIL.

Later Years and Passing

John Russell passed away on August 23, 2008, at a hospice in the Bronx, a borough of New York City.

Books Written by John Russell

John Russell wrote many books about art, places, and famous people. Some of his books include:

• Shakespeare's Country (1942)
• Switzerland (1950)
• Erich Kleiber: A Memoir (1957)
• Paris (1960)
• Francis Bacon (1964)
• Seurat (1965)
• Vuillard (1971)
• Henry Moore (1973)
• Turner in Switzerland (1976) (with Andrew Wilton)
• The Meanings of Modern Art (1981)
• Reading Russell: On Ideas, Literature, Art, Theatre, Music, Places and Persons (1989)
• Matisse: Father & Son (Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1999)
• Marc Klionsky (Hudson Hills, 2004)