Carel Weight (Prof.) 1908 - 1997
Painter of portraits, figures and townscapes, often with religious or literary subjects. Born in London in 1908, he studied at Hammersmith School of Art 1926-29 (where he met Ruskin Spear) and Goldsmith's College 1929-32 under Gardiner, Mansbridge and Bateman. He formed a friendship with Kokoschka and exhibited at the RA from 1931, becoming ARA in 1955, RA in 1965 and a trustee from 1975-1984. He was also elected RBA in 1934, LG in 1950 and RWA in 1954.
Weight held his first solo exhibition in 1933 at the Cooling Gallery and continued to exhibit in major London galleries and throughout the UK.
He was an Official War Artist 1945-46, a tutor 1947-57, then Professor of Painting at the RCA, 1957-73, where he was made Professor Emeritus in 1973 and Senior Fellow 1983. Among his pupils were David Hockney and Peter Blake. He was awarded a CBE in 1962 and an Honorary Doctorate from Edinburgh University in 1982.
His public commissions have included murals for the Festival of Britain in 1951 and "Christ & The People" for Manchester Cathedral 1963. His work is represented in a number of major collections, including the Tate Gallery and Victoria & Albert Museum, H M The Queen , The Vatican and is highly sought by museums and private collectors.
Weight is known for his portrayals of daily life in the London districts of Battersea and Clapham, and for his penetrating portraits. Without doubt Britain’s most influential painter and mentor of the 20th century.
Weight died on 13th August 1997 at the age of 90.
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