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Quentin Crisp

1 of 21 portraits of Quentin Crisp

© estate of Angus McBean / National Portrait Gallery, London

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Quentin Crisp

by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1941
17 1/8 in. x 13 1/2 in. (434 mm x 344 mm) sight
Purchased, 2008
Primary Collection
NPG P1299

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Angus McBean (1904-1990), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 283 portraits, Sitter in 79 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Pepper, Terence, Angus McBean Portraits, 2006 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 5 July to 22 October 2006), p. 55 Read entry

    The professional artist's model described his photographic sitting with McBean in his book The Naked Civil Servant (1968): '... he took about a dozen pictures of me in three-quarters of an hour. ... Though it was something that he did every day of his life, Mr McBean longed to take photographs as fervently as I desired to be photographed. He worked very quickly and methodically, his instructions as clear as lenses. "Lick your lower lip and let it hang" and, the moment before the camera clicked, "Pull your ears back." When I asked him what portrait photography was all about he said, "It's simple. They want to be beautiful."’ Crisp also appears in a mirror reflection in Kurt Hutton’s photo-essay on McBean documenting how the notorious surreal portrait of Diana Churchill was taken for Picture Post. Crisp was in a close relationship with McBean during this period, and the two men's mothers were also social acquaintances in Brighton.

Events of 1941back to top

Current affairs

The Blitz continues with sustained Luftwaffe attacks on British cities. As the bombing went on the urban population got used to the black out, the air raid sirens and nights spent in shelter. The idea emerged (to some extent a myth) of the 'spirit of the Blitz' where people pulled together united, disregarding traditional class and social divisions.

Art and science

Frank Whittle demonstrates the first test-flight of a plane powered by jet propulsion. Although the German, Hans von Ohain, built the first jet plane, Whittle was the first to patent a design for the jet engine (in 1930), and his subsequent work helped to advance the technology and made Britain leaders in the field.

International

The Soviet Union and America join the Allies. The Soviet Union was forced to switch sides after Hitler attacked in June 1941, reneging the Soviet-Nazi pact. Six months later the US Navy was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbour. The following day the USA declared war on Japan, and three days later Germany and Italy declared war on America.

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