拍品專文
It was through the artist’s good friend George Cross that Laura first met the comedian Sid Field. Sid was born in Birmingham where his father made canes and whips and his mother made dresses. He was, in the words of Bob Hope, “probably the best comedian of them all.” He was an inspiration to Tony Hancock, Frankie Howard and Kenneth Williams (who loved his campness) and fans included Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Laurence Olivier.
Sid made his career in Vaudeville, touring provincial music halls until he was brought to London by George Cross to appear in the West End, in 1940, as Slasher Green the Cockney wide boy. He was an overnight success and remembered by many with his catch phrase “What a Performance.”
Sid stayed with the Knights for Laura to make a full size drawing of him, see The Magic of a Line, p. 238.
This painting will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the work of Dame Laura Knight currently being prepared by R. John Croft F.C.A., the artist’s great-nephew.
Sid made his career in Vaudeville, touring provincial music halls until he was brought to London by George Cross to appear in the West End, in 1940, as Slasher Green the Cockney wide boy. He was an overnight success and remembered by many with his catch phrase “What a Performance.”
Sid stayed with the Knights for Laura to make a full size drawing of him, see The Magic of a Line, p. 238.
This painting will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the work of Dame Laura Knight currently being prepared by R. John Croft F.C.A., the artist’s great-nephew.