Robert Graves

1 portrait of Robert Graves

© estate of Daniel Farson / National Portrait Gallery, London

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Robert Graves

by Daniel Farson
glossy bromide print, published 9 January 1954
8 1/4 in. x 7 1/2 in. (210 mm x 192 mm) image size
Purchased, 1986
Photographs Collection
NPG x25199

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Daniel Farson (1927-1997), Photographer and writer. Artist or producer of 47 portraits, Sitter in 6 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Farson visited the poet, novelist and critic in his hometown of Deià, Majorca, where he had first moved in 1929. On commission for Picture Post, Farson was accompanied by the writer Robert Kee, whose resignation from the magazine resulted in the article being written by Graves' daughter. The author of I, Claudius (1935) is described as the 'Picasso among writers' on the publication of The Nazarene Gospel. Despite several misunderstandings during his stay, Farson recalled, 'no one could fail to photograph that impressive head successfully'.
'Graves Remakes the Gospels', Picture Post, 9 January 1954

Placesback to top

  • Place made and portrayed: Spain (Deià, Majorca)

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Events of 1954back to top

Current affairs

Roger Bannister runs the four-minute mile. Bannister was the first man to achieve the 'miracle mile', a feat that was thought by some to be impossible, beating his rival, the Australian John Landy, to the record. Bannister went on to a career as a distinguished neurologist.
Food rationing ends in Britain.

Art and science

J.R.R. Tolkien publishes the first two parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. Tolkien was an Oxford professor of Anglo-Saxon language and literature and drew on his scholarly interests in history, language and mythology to create the fictional land of Middle Earth where the books are set.
Williams Golding publishes, Lord of the Flies.

International

The South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) is established in Bangkok. This international defence organisation was established as part of the 'containment' policy of limiting the influence of communism. SEATO was, however, found to be ineffective as the member organisations failed to agree on combined action; it was disbanded in 1977.

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