The Selecting Jury of the New English Art Club

Orpen began exhibiting at the New English Art Club in the spring of 1899 when it had become dominated by staff and fellow students from the Slade School of Fine Art. By 1905 when the present drawing was made, its selecting jury included the bald-headed Rothenstein, with, to the right, in profile, Henry Tonks, Frederick Brown and Philip Wilson Steer, the senior staff of the Slade. Augustus John, barbu, in loud check, dominated the background with the diminutive Orpen looking over his elbow as all examine a possible entrant for one of that year’s exhibitions. The work relates to the artist’s semi-satirical painting The Selecting Jury of the New English Art Club 1909 (see previous page).

Professor Kenneth McConkey