BAWDEN EDWARD: (1903-1989) English painter, illustrator and graphic artist. A.L.S.. Edward, two pages, 8vo, n.p., n.d. (c.1949), to Michael Rothenstein. Bawden announces 'Clive Gardiner has agreed to accept John Wood for Goldsmiths simply upon my word for it that he is a student worth having' and further writes 'I told John that I thought he ought to get to Town next week & see both Camberwell & Goldsmiths for himself, then he would decide which school he liked best. I feel I have interfered enough in J. W.'s affairs - he can now settle the rest for himself, the only thing I wanted to make sure about was that he wld. be able to get into an art-school for certain', also adding 'Well, I don't think I need to give you a letter of introduction to Clive Gardiner because it is unlikely - & quite unnecessary - for you to go to New Cross with an armful of paintings in the event of John's rejection at Camberwell'. Together with a second A.L.S., Edward, three pages, 8vo (folding air mail stationery), Banff, Alberta, n.d. (15^th August 1949), also to Michael Rothenstein. Bawden again writes regarding John Wood, stating that he had received his correspondent's letter as well as two from Charlotte (Bawden's wife) telling him 'how troublesome J. W. was being both to you & to her & of his incapacity to look after his own interests', continuing to remark 'My immediate reaction was one of extreme annoyance, & as a consequence I wrote him a very blunt letter to point out that in the first place he ought to accept admission to Camberwell as being in the nature of a privilege, that it was not for him to question whatever Daniels thought of his work but to accept criticism for its own worth, especially when given by a man who had had years of experience…..It must be quite a month ago that I wrote to J.W. to tell him how best to manage his affairs. I did emphasise the necessity of his seeing both schools, Camberwell & Goldsmiths, in order to decide which he preferred, for I had a hunch that if he didn't decide for himself then either you or I would get a backwash of criticism if he disagreed with the school we had either of us chosen……Well, if he doesn't get himself into an Art School by the end of September I intend to give up trying to help him. I must admit my exasperation with J. W. was increased by the reflection that he had some talent & made no use of it, whereas many of the students here who don't seem to possess any talent at all do achieve much more than he has ever done simply because of their enthusiasm to learn & their willingness to work hard. I have never before had a class that has achieved so much. The other day I counted all the finished paintings whc. had been hung on the walls: there were ninety, the result of five weeks work for 15 to 17 students……It is true we had one neurotic creature, a mad middle-aged English woman, who thought she was entitled to a studio & model to herself, but she faded out mercifully on her own accord'. Some light age wear and minor creasing to the second letter, G to VG, 2

 

Michael Rothenstein (1908-1993) British printmaker, painter and art teacher.

 

John Norris Wood (1930-2015) English natural history illustrator who studied at Goldsmiths' College School of Art under Clive Gardiner and later pioneered courses on scientific and natural history illustration at the Royal College of Art.