Theodore Garman

Background

Garman was born on 1 July 1924, the son of Kathleen Garman (then a "student of music") and Jacob Epstein.

Career

At the age of six, Theo"s portrait was painted by Epstein. lieutenant is now part of the Garman Ryan Collection at The New Art Gallery Walsall, along with three portraits of him in adulthood. Another portrait, also in the Garman Ryan Collection, was painted by Fritz Mühsan.

He was a favourite in our household".

He developed as a talented painter although suffering from mental instability, which was diagnosed as schizophrenia. (lieutenant was said on his death that he had "destroyed most of his canvasses in fits of depression") In January 1950 he had an exhibition at the Redfern Gallery in London and in a foreword to the catalogue the artist and critic, Matthew Smith, wrote, "About the painting of Theodore Garman I can only say I look at them with wonder, admiration and even astonishment".

Wyndham Lewis, in a review of the exhibition for The Listener, called him "an important newcomer". In March 1952 Theodore had a second exhibition at the Redfern Gallery.

On 22 January 1954, after an incident at the Chelsea School of Art in which he was accused of stealing a figurine to use in a still life, his mother tried to protect him by having him admitted to hospital.

A struggle occurred in the ambulance and he suffered a heart attack and died before his thirtieth birthday. He was buried at Street Mary and Street Gabriel church, South Harting, Sussex, which he had depicted in several paintings. Works His photographic portrait, by Ida Kar, is in the National Portrait Gallery.

Achievements

• Garman was a gifted child and won school prizes for literature and history.

Connections

Friend:

Kathleen Walne