The Modern Boy

I spent yesterday afternoon helping my mother with the daunting task of sorting out my late father's papers and paraphernalia. We started with the small mountain of stuff that he had amassed in the corner of their house he used as an office-cum-studio. Amongst other things we found dozens of notebooks crammed with notes and sketches on sundry topics: church architecture, anatomy, calligraphy, archaeology, etc.

It soon became apparent that my father had been reluctant to throw things away throughout his 86 years. I even came across a letter dated 8th November 1933 from offices of The Modern Boy. It seems that my father had sent them a photograph of a model biplane he had built (I hasten to add that this was long before the advent of the Airfix kit).

Dad was just 13 when he built the model plane. Within three years he had graduated from model-making to stone-carving. He was inspired by the work of sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, a prodigious talent who died aged just 23 in the trenches at Neuville St. Vaast.

Earlier this year I visited an exhibition at the Graves Art Gallery titled 'We the Moderns', which features a selection of pieces by Gaudier-Brzeska.  I was amazed by the quality and quantity of work that he produced during his brief but remarkable career - no wonder my father found him an inspiration!

I plan to write more about my dad's life and work when I have time.

Comments

[Jess]

Oh, Roger...I was so amazed reading your post. I am, of course, so very sorry for your loss. I loved reading about your Dad, and I look forward to reading more as you post.

[Aydin]

He must have been upset that he couldn't get the photo of his plane published. What he needed was a blog of his own.