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WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF KALMAN KEMENY (1896-1994) Kalman Kemeny was born in Hungary in 1896. As a young child he showed great proficiency for the arts; drawing by three years old, and painting by ten. He attended The Academy of Fine Art in Budapest, and supported himself through these studies by taking on commissioned work. The outbreak of the First World War meant Kemeny was drafted into the army, and on the recommendation of his professor in Budapest, he became an Official War Artist. At 18 he was the youngest War Artist on the German-Austro-Hungarian front. Some of his sketches from this period are held in the archives of the Imperial War Museum, London, and others are offered here (see lots 135-138). The Museum also holds a taped interview with the artist, describing his memories from the conflict; 'I climbed up Monte Verena ... the destroyed Italian fortifications ... terrible battles, always to and fro ... enormous casualties'. After the war, Kemeny married, and moved to Vienna, where he won a scholarship to study at The Academy of Fine Art. Again, he supported himself through commissioned work. Towards the end of the 1930s, he travelled through Western Europe, and it was here that Kemeny became aware of the worsening political situation in his homeland. He arranged for his family to join him in London. In London Kemeny became a member of the Ben Uri Art Society. His first exhibits at Ben Uri were entries in a portrait competition, which was to be judged by Augustus John. When John arrived at the exhibition hall he pointed to Kemeny's entry and said 'that's the best, that's the winner'. When it was pointed out that there were more entries in an upstairs room, he spotted another portrait there, and said 'forget the chap downstairs - that one is the winner'. It was Kemeny's other entry. During the Second World War, Kemeny volunteered for service and was sent to a Spitfire factory. He continued to paint during this time, exhibiting at the RA summer shows, New English Art Club and others, and he continued to do so after the war. He also taught, alongside Vivian Pitchforth and Ruskin Spear, at the Hammersmith and Chelsea School of Art. Kalman Kemeny died, aged 97, in 1994.

Kalman Kemeny (1896-1994)

On the Russian Front; and a further quantity of unframed drawings

Details

Kalman Kemeny (1896-1994)
On the Russian Front; and a further quantity of unframed drawings
with studio stamp (on reverse)
pencil, unframed
12¼ x 17¾ in. (31.2 x 45.1 cm.)

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