3 OF 12

(William) Kenneth Armitage

3 of 12 portraits of (William) Kenneth Armitage

by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1954
9 3/8 in. x 6 3/4 in. (238 mm x 171 mm)
Purchased, 1999
Photographs Collection
NPG x88596

Sitterback to top

(William) Kenneth Armitage (1916-2002), Sculptor. Sitter in 12 portraits.

Artistback to top

Ida Kar (1908-1974), Photographer. Artist associated with 1564 portraits, Sitter in 137 portraits.

Related worksback to top

NPG x88597: (William) Kenneth Armitage (from same photo shoot)
NPG x88598: (William) Kenneth Armitage (from same photo shoot)
NPG x88599: (William) Kenneth Armitage (from same photo shoot)
NPG x88600: (William) Kenneth Armitage (from same photo shoot)

Portrait setback to top

Photographs by Ida Kar, 1940s-1950s

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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