Eric Kennington
Encyclopedia
Eric Henri Kennington RA
(12 March 1888 – 13 April 1960) was an English Sculptor, artist and illustrator, and an official war artist
in both World Wars.
, the son of the well-known genre and portrait painter, Thomas Benjamin Kennington
(1856–1916), an active member of the New English Art Club
. He was educated at St Paul's School and the Lambeth School of Art
.
in 1908.
At the start of World War I
, Kennington enlisted with the 13th (Kensington) Battalion London Regiment
. He fought on the Western Front
, but was wounded and discharged as unfit in June 1915. During his convalescence, he produced The Kensingtons at Laventie, Winter 1914, a portrait of a group of infantrymen. When exhibited in the spring of 1916, its portrayal of exhausted soldiers caused a sensation. Painted in reverse on glass, the painting is now in the Imperial War Museum
and was widely praised for its technical virtuosity, iconic colour scheme, and its ‘stately presentation of human endurance, of the quiet heroism of the rank and file’. Kennington returned to the front in 1917 as an official war artist.
Kennington regarded himself chiefly as a sculptor, creating a number of memorials, including one to his friend T. E. Lawrence
. He produced the illustrations for Lawrence's The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. He was one of the six pallbearers at Lawrence's funeral in 1935. Kennington also created many pastel
portraits and lithographs.
His work as a sculptor includes the War Memorial to the 24th Division in Battersea Park
1924, and allegorical reliefs on the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford on Avon, 1930.
Kennington again became an official war artist during the World War II
, personally commissioned to do work for the Ministry of Information by Edwin Embleton. Darracott and Loftus describe how in both wars "his drawings and letters show him to be an admirer of the heroism of ordinary men and women", an admiration which is particularly notable in the poster series "Seeing it Through".
His last work, which was completed on his death by his assistant Eric Stanford, was a stone relief panel that decorates the James Watt South Building in the University of Glasgow
.
Kennington is buried in the churchyard in Checkendon
, Oxfordshire, where he was churchwarden and is commemorated on a memorial in Brompton Cemetery
, London.
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
(12 March 1888 – 13 April 1960) was an English Sculptor, artist and illustrator, and an official war artist
War artist
A war artist depicts some aspect of war through art; this might be a pictorial record or it might commemorate how "war shapes lives." War artists have explored a visual and sensory dimension of war which is often absent in written histories or other accounts of warfare.- Definition and context:A...
in both World Wars.
Early life
He was born in Chelsea, LondonChelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, the son of the well-known genre and portrait painter, Thomas Benjamin Kennington
Thomas Benjamin Kennington
Thomas Benjamin Kennington was an English genre, social realist and portrait painter. He was a founder member of the New English Art Club and the Imperial Arts League.-Life and works:...
(1856–1916), an active member of the New English Art Club
New English Art Club
The New English Art Club was founded in London in 1885 as an alternate venue to the Royal Academy.-History:Young English artists returning from studying art in Paris mounted the first exhibition of the New English Art Club in April 1886...
. He was educated at St Paul's School and the Lambeth School of Art
Lambeth School of Art
Lambeth School of Art was founded in 1854 by William Gregory as a night school associated with the St. Mary the Less Church in London.-History:...
.
Career
Kennington first exhibited at the Royal AcademyRoyal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1908.
At the start of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Kennington enlisted with the 13th (Kensington) Battalion London Regiment
London Regiment
The London Regiment is a Territorial Army regiment in the British Army. It was first formed in 1908 in order to regiment the various Volunteer Force battalions in the newly formed County of London, each battalion having a distinctive uniform. The Volunteer Force was merged with the Yeomanry in 1908...
. He fought on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, but was wounded and discharged as unfit in June 1915. During his convalescence, he produced The Kensingtons at Laventie, Winter 1914, a portrait of a group of infantrymen. When exhibited in the spring of 1916, its portrayal of exhausted soldiers caused a sensation. Painted in reverse on glass, the painting is now in the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
and was widely praised for its technical virtuosity, iconic colour scheme, and its ‘stately presentation of human endurance, of the quiet heroism of the rank and file’. Kennington returned to the front in 1917 as an official war artist.
Kennington regarded himself chiefly as a sculptor, creating a number of memorials, including one to his friend T. E. Lawrence
T. E. Lawrence
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO , known professionally as T. E. Lawrence, was a British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18...
. He produced the illustrations for Lawrence's The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. He was one of the six pallbearers at Lawrence's funeral in 1935. Kennington also created many pastel
Pastel
Pastel is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all colored art media, including oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation....
portraits and lithographs.
His work as a sculptor includes the War Memorial to the 24th Division in Battersea Park
Battersea Park
Battersea Park is a 200 acre green space at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth in England. It is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea, and was opened in 1858....
1924, and allegorical reliefs on the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford on Avon, 1930.
Kennington again became an official war artist during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, personally commissioned to do work for the Ministry of Information by Edwin Embleton. Darracott and Loftus describe how in both wars "his drawings and letters show him to be an admirer of the heroism of ordinary men and women", an admiration which is particularly notable in the poster series "Seeing it Through".
His last work, which was completed on his death by his assistant Eric Stanford, was a stone relief panel that decorates the James Watt South Building in the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
Kennington is buried in the churchyard in Checkendon
Checkendon
Checkendon is a village and civil parish about west of Henley-on-Thames in South Oxfordshire, England.-Parish church:The Church of England parish church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is a 12th century Norman building...
, Oxfordshire, where he was churchwarden and is commemorated on a memorial in Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
, London.
Family
In 1922, he married Edith Cecil, with whom he had a son and a daughter. Edith, who was already married, fell in love with Kennington while he was painting her husband's picture. They both remained good friends with Edith's ex-husband.External links
- Kennington, Eric Henri (1888-1960) A comprehensive summary of Kennington's work on The National Archives website.