Divine People

de Erik Akers-Douglas, Lawrence Hendra

Ambrose McEvoy was one of the most modern and daring English society portrait painters of the early 20th century. His quick, confident style of painting drew the attention of many leading society figures, from Winston Churchill to Lady Diana Cooper, and in particular subjects who craved something beyond a simple "likeness" in paint. Despite his success, when McEvoy died unexpectedly at the peak of his career in 1927, his name was soon forgotten. 'Divine People' is the first major written study of McEvoy's life and work and aims to firmly place this long-neglected artist back into the canon of 20th-century British art. Many of McEvoy's friends and contemporaries including Augustus and Gwen John, William Rothenstein and William Orpen have become familiar names to British art enthusiasts, but McEvoy has remained on the side-lines. This is partly due to the fact that many of his most accomplished works have remained tucked away in private collections or left languishing in museum stores, however, it is also due to the absence of any reliable literature on his life and work. This publication hopes to restore him to his rightful place. Exhibition: Philip Mould & Co., London, UK (26.11.2019-24.01.2020).