Roland Penrose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roland Penrose
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circa 1940
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| Born | 14 October 1900 London, England
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| Died | 23 April 1984 (aged 83) Chiddingly, East Sussex, England
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| Education | Architecture |
| Known for | Home Guard Manual of Camouflage Institute of Contemporary Arts |
| Movement | Surrealism |
| Spouse(s) | |
Roland Penrose (born October 14, 1900 – died April 23, 1984) was an English artist, writer, and poet. He was very important in promoting and collecting modern art. He was also connected to the Surrealist art movement in the United Kingdom. During World War II, he used his artistic talents to teach people about camouflage. Penrose was married to the poet Valentine Boué and later to the photographer Lee Miller.
Contents
Early Life and Art
Growing Up and Education
Roland Penrose was born in London, England. His father, James Doyle Penrose, was a successful portrait painter. His mother, Elizabeth Josephine Peckover, came from a wealthy Quaker family. Roland was the third of four brothers. His older brother, Lionel Penrose, became a famous medical geneticist.
Roland grew up in a strict Quaker family in Watford. He went to The Downs School and then Leighton Park School. In 1918, he joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit. This was because he was a conscientious objector, meaning he refused to fight in wars. He served with the British Red Cross in Italy.
Becoming an Artist
After studying architecture at Queens' College, Cambridge, Penrose decided to become a painter instead. He moved to France in 1922. There, in 1925, he married his first wife, Valentine Boué, who was a poet.
During his time in France, Roland became good friends with many famous artists. These included Pablo Picasso, Wolfgang Paalen, and Max Ernst. These artists, especially the Surrealists, greatly influenced his own artwork.
Surrealism and the London Gallery
Bringing Surrealism to England
In 1936, Penrose returned to London. He helped organize the London International Surrealist Exhibition. This event was very important because it helped start the English Surrealist movement. Roland settled in Hampstead, a part of north London. His home became a meeting place for many new British artists and artists who had moved to England.
With a Belgian Surrealist named E. L. T. Mesens, Penrose opened the London Gallery. This gallery showed works by Surrealist artists. It also featured sculptors like Henry Moore and painters like Ben Nicholson.
His Own Artworks
Even though he was busy with the gallery, Penrose still created some paintings. One example is Le Grand Jour from 1938. He called it a "collage painting" even though he only used paint on the canvas. He said the images in the painting were like images in dreams. They came together to create new meanings for people to think about.
Life in London, Cornwall, and Paris
Moving and Relationships
Penrose asked Henry Moore to create a sculpture for his house in Hampstead. This sculpture caused a lot of discussion in the newspapers about abstract art. Roland's first marriage ended in 1937.
In June 1937, Penrose visited Cornwall. He stayed at his brother's home with a group of Surrealist artists. This group included his new partner, Leonora Carrington, and artists like Max Ernst and Lee Miller. You can see photos of their time there at Falmouth Art Gallery.
In 1938, Penrose organized a tour of Picasso's famous painting, Guernica. This tour helped raise money for the government in Spain during a difficult time. By 1939, Penrose began a relationship with the model and photographer Lee Miller. They got married in 1947. They lived in London, and their house now has a special blue plaque to remember them.
World War II Camouflage Work
Teaching Camouflage
Roland Penrose had been a pacifist because of his Quaker beliefs. However, when World War II started, he decided to help. He first volunteered as an air raid warden. Then, he began teaching military camouflage at a training center.
This led to him becoming a captain in the Royal Engineers. He worked as a senior teacher at camouflage schools. His lessons were well-liked by both students and other teachers. In 1941, Penrose wrote a book called Home Guard Manual of Camouflage. This book gave good advice on how to use texture, not just color, to hide things. This was especially important for protection from aerial photographs, which were black and white at the time.
The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)
Founding the ICA
After the war, in 1947, Penrose helped start the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London. He organized the first two exhibitions at the ICA. One was called 40 Years of Modern Art, which showed many important Cubist artworks. The other was 40,000 Years of Modern Art, which showed his interest in African sculpture.
Penrose was involved with the ICA for 30 years. He wrote books about the works of his friends, including Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, Joan Miró, and Man Ray. He also helped the Tate Gallery buy artworks by Picasso and the Surrealists at good prices.
Farley Farm
A Home for Art
In 1949, Penrose and Lee Miller bought Farley Farm House in Chiddingly, East Sussex. This house became a place where he displayed his valuable collection of modern art, especially Surrealist works and pieces by Picasso. Penrose also designed the gardens around the house to show off modern sculptures.
Today, Farleys House is a museum and archive. People can visit it on certain days for guided tours. Roland remained close to his first wife, Valentine. She even lived with Roland and Lee Miller for a while. Valentine passed away at Farley Farm in 1978.
Awards and Family
Recognitions
Roland Penrose's unique paintings, drawings, and objects are still some of the most memorable works from the Surrealist movement. His postcard collages can be found in major art collections across Britain. He received the CBE award in 1960. In 1966, he was made a knight for his contributions to the visual arts. The University of Sussex also gave him an honorary degree in 1980.
His Family
Roland Penrose was the uncle of the famous physicist Roger Penrose and the chess Grandmaster Jonathan Penrose. Roland and Lee Miller had a son named Antony Penrose. Antony continues to manage Farleys House as a museum and archive today.
Images for kids
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Le Grand Jour, a Surrealist painting by Roland Penrose from 1938.
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Farleys House, the home of Roland Penrose and Lee Miller, now a museum.
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See also
In Spanish: Roland Penrose para niños
- Stanley William Hayter
- Julian Trevelyan
