Stephen Reiss

August 7, 1918 (age 81)

London, England, United Kingdom

During World War II, Stephen Reiss served as an intelligence officer. At the end of the conflict he was put in charge of organizing festivals and concerts in the German city of Lubeck in 1945. In 1949, he took charge of the music and arts festival in Aldeburgh, and greatly expanded the range and profitability of the festival during his sixteen years as administrator. Reiss’s success in this post led to his appointment as director of Fanfare for Europe, a celebration of England’s entrance into the European Market. He then joined the London Symphony as an administrator and served from 1974 to 1975. In the 1970s, Reiss began again to pursue his love of fine art. He opened two art galleries, and curated an exhibition of the seventeenth-century Dutch painter Aelbert Cuyp. Still living in Suffolk, he then rediscovered Peggy Somerville, a painter who had been a 1920s child sensation, with three successful solo exhibitions in London by the time she was 14. But when her name had lost its novelty value, her art became all but invisible. After her death near Aldeburgh in 1975, Stephen was shown a studio crammed with her pictures. He and Peggy's sister then set about resurrecting the name of a fine colourist whose works had once been bought by the likes of Walter Sickert and Matthew Smith. A monograph, Aelbert Cuyp, was published in 1975. Reiss is also the author of two books on the twentieth-century painter Peggy Somerville, the first, The Child Art of Peggy Somerville, was published in 1990. He wrote the catalogue for the bicentenary exhibition of the paintings of Thomas Churchyard, and at the time of his death was working on a book about women painters from the sixteenth to the twentieth century.

Stephen Reiss

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historian author

Background

Stephen Reiss was born on August 7, 1918 in London, England, United Kingdom. He was a son of Richard Reiss and had a sister, Delia, who married the painter Patrick Heron.

Education

After only two terms, Stephen Reiss switched from Balliol College, Oxford, to the Chelsea School of Art (now Chelsea College of Arts).

Education period of Stephen Reiss in Balliol College

Career

During World War II, Stephen Reiss served as an intelligence officer. At the end of the conflict he was put in charge of organizing festivals and concerts in the German city of Lubeck in 1945. In 1949, he took charge of the music and arts festival in Aldeburgh, and greatly expanded the range and profitability of the festival during his sixteen years as administrator. Reiss’s success in this post led to his appointment as director of Fanfare for Europe, a celebration of England’s entrance into the European Market.

He then joined the London Symphony as an administrator and served from 1974 to 1975. In the 1970s, Reiss began again to pursue his love of fine art. He opened two art galleries, and curated an exhibition of the seventeenth-century Dutch painter Aelbert Cuyp.

Still living in Suffolk, he then rediscovered Peggy Somerville, a painter who had been a 1920s child sensation, with three successful solo exhibitions in London by the time she was 14. But when her name had lost its novelty value, her art became all but invisible. After her death near Aldeburgh in 1975, Stephen was shown a studio crammed with her pictures. He and Peggy's sister then set about resurrecting the name of a fine colourist whose works had once been bought by the likes of Walter Sickert and Matthew Smith.

A monograph, Aelbert Cuyp, was published in 1975. Reiss is also the author of two books on the twentieth-century painter Peggy Somerville, the first, The Child Art of Peggy Somerville, was published in 1990. He wrote the catalogue for the bicentenary exhibition of the paintings of Thomas Churchyard, and at the time of his death was working on a book about women painters from the sixteenth to the twentieth century.

Achievements

Stephen Reiss was best known for his service as arts administrator and curator. In 1973 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his service to the arts.

Works

The Child Art of Peggy Somerville The Child Art of Peggy Somerville

book
- Aelbert Cuyp 1975
- The Child Art of Peggy Somerville 1990

Connections

Stephen Reiss was married and had a son, who died from a heart attack.

Father:: Richard Reiss
Sister:: Delia Heron

References

Contemporary Authors
2000

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School period

College/University

Gallery of Stephen Reiss

Gallery of Stephen Reiss

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Order of the British Empire

Other Photos

Other photo of Stephen Reiss

Other photo of Stephen Reiss

Other photo of Stephen Reiss

Connections

Connections

book

Aelbert Cuyp

The Child Art of Peggy Somerville

Stephen Reiss

Background

Education

Career

Achievements

Works

book

Connections

References

Born

Died

Nationality

Ethnicity

Education

Career

1974 - 1975

1975 - 1999

Official Titles

Awards

Order of the British Empire