Michael Ayrton
1 of 8 portraits of Michael Ayrton
© estate of Michael Ayrton / National Portrait Gallery, London
Michael Ayrton
by Michael Ayrton
pen and ink and wash, 1947
15 1/8 in. x 12 in. (384 mm x 305 mm)
Purchased, 1982
Primary Collection
NPG 5537
Sitterback to top
- Michael Ayrton (1921-1975), Artist. Sitter in 8 portraits, Artist or producer of 10 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Michael Ayrton (1921-1975), Artist. Artist or producer of 10 portraits, Sitter in 8 portraits.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Bakewell, Michael, Character Sketches: Fitzrovia: London's Bohemia, 1999, p. 41
- Rideal, Liz, Insights: Self-portraits, 2005, p. 82 Read entry
Ayrton trained in Paris with Giorgio de Chirico and Pavel Tchelitchew. From 1944 he was the art critic of the Spectator, and in 1946 he worked with Constant Lambert on Purcell’s Fairy Queen. Made ten years earlier than the painting opposite, Aryton sports the same beard and is conventionally dressed. The desire to place the figure within a space bounded by juxtaposed straight lines is already apparent.
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 26
Events of 1947back to top
Current affairs
Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey. Philip renounced his title of Prince of Greece and Denmark, to become Duke of Edinburgh when he married the heir to the throne.Art and science
The first Edinburgh Festival includes performances by Kathleen Ferrier, Alec Guinness and Margot Fonteyn. The Festival is now a major annual international arts event that takes place over three weeks every August, and includes top class performers in theatre, music and dance as well as lesser-known performers who take part in the parallel 'Fringe Festival'.International
India is granted independence from the British Empire and the former British Raj is partitioned into India and Pakistan. After various revolts and several years of civil disobedience led by Gandhi and his Quit India Movement, Britain agrees to disband the Raj and grant independence to India.Palestine is partitioned into a Jewish State, an Arab State and a small internationally administered zone.
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