Craigie Aitchison

1 portrait

© estate of Craigie Aitchison / Bridgeman Art Library www.bridgemanart.com

4 Likes voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

Craigie Aitchison

by Craigie Aitchison
oil on canvas, circa late 1950s-early 1960s
24 in. x 20 in. (610 mm x 508 mm)
Purchased with help from Terence and Angela Danziger Miles and Sir Paul Smith, 2012
Primary Collection
NPG 6933

Sitterback to top

  • Craigie Aitchison (1926-2009), Artist. Sitter in 5 portraits, Artist or producer of 1 portrait.

Artistback to top

  • Craigie Aitchison (1926-2009), Artist. Artist or producer of 1 portrait, Sitter in 5 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Craigie Aitchison usually painted visionary and religious subjects, as well as rendering motifs such as trees, birds and dogs in radiant colours. At the height of his career, shortly after having been elected a member of the Royal Academy of Arts, Aitchison slashed through the face on this self-portrait when a studio visitor remarked that the portrait was flattering. Aitchison subsequently had it restored, but ensured that the marks left by the lacerations remained. Obviously sensitive to the scrutiny of others, perhaps he felt that his actions had improved the portrait by presenting a more fallible human being.

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Events of 1957back to top

Current affairs

Harold Macmillan takes over as Conservative prime minister, manoeuvring Eden out of power after his poor handling of the Suez Crisis the previous year.
The Wolfenden Report recommends that homosexuality should no longer be a criminal offence. It still took ten years, however, before any changes were made to the law on homosexuality with the Sexual Offences Act in 1967.

Art and science

The Today Programme is first broadcast on Radio 4. This early morning current affairs programme is known for breaking major stories early, and for its hard-hitting approach and tough interviewing style. Presenters have included: Robert Robinson, Brian Redhead, Libby Purves, Jenni Murray, Sue MacGregor, John Humphrys, Anna Ford and James Naughtie.

International

The Treaty of Rome leads to the formation of the European Economic Community. Officially beginning on 1st January 1958, the EEC established a European Common Market, where goods, services, labour and capital could move freely within the European member countries, and shared policies were agreed for labour, social welfare, agriculture, transport, and foreign trade. The EEC preceded the European Community, and the European Union.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.