Toggle Nav

Gilbert Adams Artist

A number of Gilbert’s photographic portraits are held by the National Portrait Gallery. He was also an incredibly talented painter and relayed his skills as a portrait photographer to his portrait painting

Gilbert Adams (1906-1996) studied at Reading University and like his father and brother, Gilbert earned his reputation as a photographer. Most notably, he obtained a commission by the British Council to make a series promoting Britain to tourists and also directed the lighting for the Coronation of Elizabeth II. A number of Gilbert’s photographic portraits are held by the National Portrait Gallery including ones of the popular British artists Peter Lanyon, Terry Frost and Graham Sutherland. Other famous faces to appear amongst his post-war work include the sculptor Henry Moore and a young Marianne Faithfull.

Gilbert was also an incredibly talented painter and relayed his skills as a portrait photographer to his portrait painting -

"Art and picture making with a camera are fundamentally the same, requiring such essential qualities as good taste, beauty of line, and perfect juxtaposition of tone, together with atmosphere that stirs the emotion" Gilbert Adams, 'Photograms of the Year’ (1948) p.11.

His portraits are executed in an impressionistic and occasionally expressionistic manner. Through the medium of oil and coloured pastel, the portraits in this collection convey a vibrancy and beauty of line reminiscent of the early members of the New English Arts Club.

Gilbert was also a prolific landscape painter and many of his works in our collection depict the Wiltshire landscape. The artist also spent a great deal of time in St Ives which he first visited in 1926 to see fellow artist Leonard Richmond (1889 -1965) and later returned regularly on holidays. He moved to St Ives with his family at the beginning of World War One and became close friends with the most major artists working in the area, including Peter Lanyon and Hyman Segal.

Gilbert was in great demand as lecturer on art, photography, and lighting for the remainder of his life. He later specialised in photographing the ballet, before passing away in 1996.

Page
per page

Items 1-30 of 393

Set Ascending Direction
Page
per page

Items 1-30 of 393

Set Ascending Direction