Sir Kingsley Amis and family
1 of 2 portraits of Hilary ('Hilly') Ann Bardwell (née Sidney), Lady Kilmarnock
Sir Kingsley Amis and family
by Daniel Farson
modern bromide print, 18 June 1956
Given by Daniel Farson, 1994
Photographs Collection
NPG x135684
Sittersback to top
- Sir Kingsley William Amis (1922-1995), Novelist. Sitter in 32 portraits. Identify
- Martin Louis Amis (1949-2023), Novelist; son of Sir Kingsley Amis. Sitter in 22 portraits. Identify
- Philip Amis (1948-), Graphic designer and artist. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Sally Myfanwy Amis (1954-2000), Daughter of Sir Kingsley Amis. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Hilary ('Hilly') Ann Bardwell (née Sidney), Lady Kilmarnock (1928-2010), Former wife of Kingsley Amis, and later second wife of 7th Baron Kilmarnock; mother of Martin Amis. Sitter in 2 portraits. Identify
Artistback to top
- Daniel Farson (1927-1997), Photographer and writer. Artist or producer of 47 portraits, Sitter in 6 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Farson travelled to Swansea where Amis lectured at the University of Wales. The author of Lucky Jim (1954) and winner of the Somerset Maugham Award told Farson, 'I still can't believe it's happening to us. I used to snatch at three guineas for a poem...We were pretty well on our uppers, when we had another kid we were desperate. Only in the last eighteen months have we lived as well as we want.' Farson stayed the night with Kingsley Amis, his wife Hilary and their children Martin (novelist, b.1949), Philip (b.1948) and Sally (1954-2000).
Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top
- Famous in the Fifties: Photographs by Daniel Farson (19 April 2012 - 16 September 2012)
Events of 1956back to top
Current affairs
The first supermarket opens in Britain. Inspired by the new innovation in America, Jack Cohen opened his first Tesco supermarket in Essex.The First Clean Air Act is passed in response to the 'Pea Soup' smog over London.
Art and science
Pop Art is seen for the first time in the This is Tomorrow exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery. The exhibition included Richard Hamilton's iconic collage: What is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing?John Osborne's play Look Back in Anger opens at the Royal Court Theatre, introducing the phrase 'Angry young man' to describe the new movement of gritty, post-war realism in literature.
International
The Suez Crisis rocked Eden's premiership and marked the decline of British world power and influence in favour of America. In 1956 President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez canal. Although Britain and France, who had owned the canal since the 19th century, invaded Egypt, they were soon persuaded to withdraw by US President Eisenhower who disapproved of the occupation.Comments back to top
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