Alfred Wallis ...and Sven

Just finished reading Matilda Webb's wonderful book Alfred Wallis Child Pauper to Artistic Luminary which I haven’t been able to put down! As you would expect, Sven Berlin and his 1949 book Alfred Wallis Primitive and the controversy it caused is well covered. Matilda's stunning depth of research has it appears left no stone unturned.

A tour de force. Highly recommended reading from Matilda Webb just published.

This tour de force of 530 pages takes you through Alfred Wallis’s entire life, explores the long lost sea-faring world of St. Ives as well as putting in context every aspect of his work and why he painted the way he did. Extraordinary.

Every character, event, vessel and place is backed up with the honest answers to all the questions none of us thought to ask (even Sven Berlin) but with clarity - it is such an easy read. A master class in focussed and comprehensive writing. Even the Modernist artists are treated with respect and empathy.

Having read Sven’s own book on Alfred (Alfred Wallis Primitive)  before reading this one I am even more amazed at the level and accuracy of Sven's research in the 1940s considering his own circumstances (including being at war) and with his intermittent absence from St. Ives and that he had Nicholson and Hepworth to deal with!! Matilda's hard work over eight years has certainly paid off. Highly recommended. You can order a copy here...

#Alfred Wallis #Sven Berlin