Edward Seago
| Edward Seago | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 31 March 1910 Norwich |
| Died | 19 January 1974 |
| Nationality | English |
| Field | Painting |
| Movement | Post-Impressionism |
| Patrons | Queen Mother |
| Influenced by | Sir Alfred Munnings |
| Awards | Royal Drawing Society |
Edward Brian (Ted) Seago RBA ARWS RWS (31 March 1910 – 19 January 1974) was an English artist who painted in both oils and watercolours.
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[edit] Early life
The son of a coal merchant, born in Norwich,[1] Seago was a self-taught artist, (although he received advice from Sir Alfred Munnings and Bernard Priestman), and enjoyed a wide range of admirers from the British Royal family and the Aga Khan to the common man. His works have been classified as either Impressionist or Post-Impressionist and included landscapes, seascapes, skyscapes, street scenes, his garden and portraits.
At fourteen, he won an award from the Royal Drawing Society, and from then on knew what he wanted to do in spite of his parents' initial disapproval. At the age of eighteen, Seago joined Bevin's Travelling Show and subsequently toured with circuses in Britain and throughout Europe.
In 1937 Seago gave evidence to a police enquiry into a blackmail gang in London's West End who exploited sodomy laws. His statement reveals he had a friendship with a young man in late 1936 who used a fake name and extracted money from Seago by deception.[2]
[edit] Wartime camoufleur
Heart problems, identified at the age of seven, dogged him all of his life. He had to resort to subterfuge to join the army at the outbreak of the Second World War. He was commissioned as a Major in the Royal Engineers and advised on camouflage[3] techniques for Field Marshal Auchinleck, with whom he had a lifelong friendship.[4]
[edit] Later career
Such was his popularity that those who wished to buy one of his paintings had to queue at his various annual exhibitions around the world (with the single exception of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother).
"The Queen Mother bought so many that eventually the artist, who died in 1974, gave her two a year – on her birthday and at Christmas. Prince Philip invited him on a tour of the Antarctic in 1956, and his subsequent paintings, considered to be among his best, hang at Balmoral."[5]
Seago also created the solid silver sculpture of St George slaying the Dragon, which serves as an automobile mascot for any state limousine in which Queen Elizabeth II is travelling.[6] The mascot or "hood ornament", as it would be referred to in the United States, can be transferred from car to car. When the monarch is not aboard, it is substituted for the symbol of the manufacturer, such as the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy or the Bentley "B".
[edit] Legacy
Seago died of a brain tumour in London on 19 January 1974. In his will he requested that one third of his paintings from his estate were to be destroyed. There remain about 19,000 water colors and 300 oil paintings remaining worldwide. A major retrospective of his work was held in autumn 2008 in London, as was a Sky Arts 2 television series about Seago fronted by Selina Scott.[3]
An Edward Seago Exhibition was held at Portland Gallery in June - July 2012. Portland Gallery represents the Estate of Edward Seago.
[edit] Bibliography
Seago's published works include:
- Circus Company (1933)
- Sons of Sawdust (1934)
- The Country Scene (1936 - forty-two paintings accompanying John Masefield's poetry)
- Tribute to the Ballet (1937 - again in conjunction with John Masefield)
- Caravan (1937)
- A Generation Risen (1942)
- Peace in War (1943)
- High Endeavour (1944)
- With the Allied Armies in Italy (1945)
- A Canvas to Cover (1947 - Autobiography)
- Tideline (1948)
- With Capricorn to Paris (1956)
[edit] Further reading
- Goodman, J. Seago - A Wider Canvas: The Life of Edward Seago with Writings by his Brother, John. Erskine Press, 2002.
- Ranson, R. Edward Seago. David & Charles, 1987.
- Ranson, R. Edward Seago: The Vintage Years. David & Charles, 1992.
- Reid, J.W. Edward Seago: The Landscape Art. Sotheby's Publications, 1991.
[edit] References
- ^ "The Papers of Edward Brian Seago". Janus. Cambridge University.
- ^ McLaren, Angus. Sexual Blackmail. Pp. 110.
- ^ a b Scott, Selina. "Edward Seago: The Forgotten Painter". Sky. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ "The Papers of Edward Brian Seago". GBR/0014/ESEA. Janus (database). Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ Andrew Johnson, Royal favourite Seago is back in fashion, The Independent, 20 July 2008
- ^ [1]
[edit] External links
- Portland Gallery are proud to represent the estate of Edward Seago
- Fifty-six of Seago's paintings courtesy of John Fuller
- 57 works by Seago at the Portland Gallery
- Andrew Johnson, Royal favourite Seago is back in fashion, The Independent, 20 July 2008
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