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Artist: Michael Rothenstein (British, 1908-1993)
British painter. Born in Hampstead, London and youngest son of famous artist, Sir William Rothenstein. Was first home schooled then studied art at Chelsea Polytechnic and the Central School of Arts and Crafts. First solo show was at the Warren Gallery, London in 1931. Painted mostly Neo-Romantic landscapes. Commissioned in 194o to paint watercolours of endangered sites in Sussex for the Recording Britain Projects. Moved to Ethel House during the 1940s and held multiple solo shows at the Redfern Gallery, London in 1942. During the early 1950s, several artists also moved to Great Bardfield, where Rothenstein resided, making it a hub for art in Britain. Rothenstein helped organize exhibitions for the Great Bardfield artists during the 1950s and also switched to printmaking. Best known for his printmaking and wrote several books such as Looking at Painting (1947) and Frontiers of Printmaking (1966). Taught at Camberwell school of Art and also gave lectures in the U.S. Illustrated the first UK edition of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and several other books. Elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1977 and a Royal Academician in 1984. Last exhibitions include a retrospective at the Stoke-on-Trent City Museum and Art Gallery in 1989 and several shows at the Fry Art Gallery, Essex in 1991 and 1993.