1 OF 7 
Harold Edward Monro
1 of 7 portraits by Jacob Kramer
© William Roberts Society
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Harold Edward Monro
by Jacob Kramer
ink and chalk, 1923
13 3/8 in. x 6 3/4 in. (340 mm x 170 mm)
Purchased, 1970
Primary Collection
NPG 4705
Sitterback to top
- Harold Edward Monro (1879-1932), Poet, editor and bookseller. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Artistback to top
- Jacob Kramer (1892-1962), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 7 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Clerk, Honor, The Sitwells, 1994 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 14 October - 22 January 1995), p. 72 Read entry
Harold Monro (1879-1932), poet and editor, was the founder of three literary magazines between 1912 and 1919, but it was his Poetry Bookshop in Devonshire Street that put him on the literary map. Here, in the comfortable panelled rooms above his shop, the London literati met regularly, read poetry and discussed new ideas. 'He would often of an evening bring together whole schools of poets of the most diverse faith, opinions and temperament ... Sometimes there would be battle but always one heard the literary news.’1 Both Harold and his wife Alida were friends of the Sitwells and stayed at Renishaw.
The artist Jacob Kramer may have met Monro through his friend Jacob Epstein, who rented rooms above the Poetry Bookshop. The mask-like portrait indicates the influence of African and Oceanic artefacts on Kramer's work at the time. It was reproduced as the frontispiece to Monro's posthumously published Collected Poems in 1933.
1 Osbert Sitwell, Laughter in the Next Room, 1949, p 34.
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 436
Events of 1923back to top
Current affairs
Stanley Baldwin begins the first of three terms of government as Conservative Prime Minister following the resignation of Andrew Bonar Law.Art and science
Bolton Wanderers beat West Ham United in the first FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. The Cup Final was held at Wembley every year except during the war until 2000.International
Hitler attempts to take power in Germany with the Munich Beer Hall Putsch. On the 8th November Hitler and the SA stormed a meeting of the ruling 'triumvirs' forcing them to support a march on Berlin. The coup, however, failed and Hitler was arrested and sentences to five years in prison.Comments back to top
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