'The Dark is Light Enough'
1 portrait of Oliver Messel
'The Dark is Light Enough'
by Norman Parkinson
bromide print on card mount, 1954
Given by Norman Parkinson, 1981 in conjunction with the NPG exhibition 'Norman Parkinson: 50 Years of Portraits and Fashion'
Photographs Collection
NPG x30078
Sittersback to top
- Peter Stephen Paul Brook (1925-2022), Theatre and film producer; Co-director of The Royal Shakespeare Theatre; Founder of the International Centre of Theatre Research. Sitter in 12 portraits. Identify
- James Donald (1917-1993), Actor. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Dame Edith Evans (Dame Edith Mary Booth) (1888-1976), Actress. Sitter in 31 portraits. Identify
- Christopher Fry (1907-2005), Playwright. Sitter in 19 portraits. Identify
- Oliver Hilary Sambourne Messel (1904-1978), Artist and stage designer. Sitter in 27 portraits. Identify
Artistback to top
- Norman Parkinson (1913-1990), Photographer. Artist or producer of 244 portraits, Sitter in 14 portraits.
Subjects & Themesback 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.Comments back to top
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