| Description |
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It is very evident that the artist was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites and their working methods. The portrait, which shows the composer at about age twenty-five, is executed in tempera (i.e. pigments mixed with water and egg yolk); it was a favoured medium of the Renaissance and Armfield wrote extensively about its techniques. Grainger always hoped to attend an Aldeburgh Festival but was prevented by illness from doing so, although his widow, Ella, visited during the 1966 Festival when a tribute concert was mounted. In later years Grainger’s music often featured at concerts and two full recordings were also made by Britten, Pears and their associates. This image was chosen as the sleeve for the 1969 LP Salute to Percy Grainger (Decca SXL 6410); a second Salute followed in 1978 under the direction of Steuart Bedford.
Tempera on silk laid on board: 29.3 x 24.4 cm. Framed, mounted: 43.6 x 38.2 cm. Signed with artist’s monogram |
