Alan Sorrell
Encyclopedia
Alan Sorrell was in fact born in Southend, Essex
, England, the son of a jeweller, who would take him drawing at an early age. He was trained at the Royal College of Art
(1924–27), and then won a scholarship to the British School of Rome (1928–1930). He was a Senior Assistant Instructor of Drawing, Royal College of Art, 1931–39 and 1946-48. In 1937 he was elected a member of the Royal Watercolour Society
. He married the watercolour artist Elizabeth Tanner in 1947. Alan Sorrell is now mainly remembered for his archaeological illustrations, particularly his detailed reconstructions of Roman Britain. As Professor Barry Cunliffe
wrote:
He began his archaeological reconstruction drawings before the war at Maiden Castle
, in collaboration with Mortimer Wheeler
, and at Roman Caerwent
and Carleon, in collaboration with Cyril Fox
and V. E. Nash-Williams of the National Museum of Wales. After the war this archaeological work was to take up more and more of his time with commissions from archaeologists such as Prof. W. F. Grimes
(the London Mithraeum
), the Illustrated London News
and later on a more official basis for the Ministry of Works. Public awareness of his work was increased by his prolific output and his many publications, starting with 'Roman Britain' (1961), as well drawings commissioned for TV series such as 'Who Were the British?
' (Anglia TV). Probably this archaeological work has led to more of Alan Sorrell's work being in public collections than that of any other 20th-century artist.
Throughout this post-war period he still found time for his more imaginative work, which was exhibited at the RWS, the RA and other exhibitions. The titles were often evocative, such as 'The Fallen Emperors', 'The Stone Men' & 'The Dark Tower'. A strong characteristic of these paintings is 'a sense of the decay of a noble past, and this and their treatment, in its starkness and drama, links them inevitably with his archaeological drawings' (Mark Sorrell, from Reconstructing the Past).
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England, the son of a jeweller, who would take him drawing at an early age. He was trained at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
(1924–27), and then won a scholarship to the British School of Rome (1928–1930). He was a Senior Assistant Instructor of Drawing, Royal College of Art, 1931–39 and 1946-48. In 1937 he was elected a member of the Royal Watercolour Society
Royal Watercolour Society
The Royal Watercolour Society is an English institution of painters working in watercolours...
. He married the watercolour artist Elizabeth Tanner in 1947. Alan Sorrell is now mainly remembered for his archaeological illustrations, particularly his detailed reconstructions of Roman Britain. As Professor Barry Cunliffe
Barry Cunliffe
Sir Barrington Windsor Cunliffe, CBE, known professionally as Barry Cunliffe is a former Professor of European Archaeology at the University of Oxford, a position held from 1972 to 2007...
wrote:
He began his archaeological reconstruction drawings before the war at Maiden Castle
Maiden Castle, Dorset
Maiden Castle is an Iron Age hill fort south west of Dorchester, in the English county of Dorset. Hill forts were fortified hill-top settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age...
, in collaboration with Mortimer Wheeler
Mortimer Wheeler
Brigadier Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler CH, CIE, MC, FBA, FSA , was one of the best-known British archaeologists of the twentieth century.-Education and career:...
, and at Roman Caerwent
Caerwent
Caerwent is a village and community in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located about five miles west of Chepstow and eleven miles east of Newport, and was founded by the Romans as the market town of Venta Silurum, an important settlement of the Brythonic Silures tribe. The modern village is built...
and Carleon, in collaboration with Cyril Fox
Cyril Fox
Sir Cyril Fred Fox , born, Chippenham, Wiltshire, was an English archaeologist.Cyril Fox became keeper of archaeology at the National Museum of Wales...
and V. E. Nash-Williams of the National Museum of Wales. After the war this archaeological work was to take up more and more of his time with commissions from archaeologists such as Prof. W. F. Grimes
W. F. Grimes
Professor William Francis Grimes was a Welsh archaeologist who devoted his career to the archaeology of London and the prehistory of Wales. Born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, he received his education at the University of Wales. He held a number of prominent posts in Wales, including Chairman of the...
(the London Mithraeum
Mithraeum
A Mithraeum is a place of worship for the followers of the mystery religion of Mithraism.The Mithraeum was either an adapted natural cave or cavern or an artificial building imitating a cavern. Mithraea were dark and windowless, even if they were not actually in a subterranean space or in a natural...
), the Illustrated London News
Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper; the first issue appeared on Saturday 14 May 1842. It was published weekly until 1971 and then increasingly less frequently until publication ceased in 2003.-History:...
and later on a more official basis for the Ministry of Works. Public awareness of his work was increased by his prolific output and his many publications, starting with 'Roman Britain' (1961), as well drawings commissioned for TV series such as 'Who Were the British?
Who Were the British?
Who Were the British? is a six-part Television Series made by Anglia Television, and written and presented by Dr Brian Hope-Taylor, focusing upon the early history and origins of Britain. It was shown on ITV in a late-night slot, with starting times varying between 10:40pm and 11:20pm.-Episode...
' (Anglia TV). Probably this archaeological work has led to more of Alan Sorrell's work being in public collections than that of any other 20th-century artist.
Throughout this post-war period he still found time for his more imaginative work, which was exhibited at the RWS, the RA and other exhibitions. The titles were often evocative, such as 'The Fallen Emperors', 'The Stone Men' & 'The Dark Tower'. A strong characteristic of these paintings is 'a sense of the decay of a noble past, and this and their treatment, in its starkness and drama, links them inevitably with his archaeological drawings' (Mark Sorrell, from Reconstructing the Past).
Publications
- Latinum A reader for the first stage of Latin by C.B. Robinson with illustrations by Alan Sorrell, Cambridge at the University Press, 1940
- Roman Britain text by Aileen FoxAileen FoxAileen Fox, née Henderson was an English archaeologist.The daughter of a solicitor, she was educated at Downe House School in Kent and later at its new site in Berkshire, under the headship of Olive Willis, and went on to read English at Newnham College, Cambridge...
, drawings by Alan Sorrell, Lutterworth PressLutterworth PressThe Lutterworth Press is one of the oldest independent British publishing houses. It has been trading since the late eighteenth century initially as the Religious Tract Society...
, London 1961 - Saxon England text by John Hamilton, drawings by Alan Sorrel, Lutterworth PressLutterworth PressThe Lutterworth Press is one of the oldest independent British publishing houses. It has been trading since the late eighteenth century initially as the Religious Tract Society...
, London 1964 - Living History, text and drawings by Alan Sorrell, B T Batsfords Ltd' London 1965
- Norman Britain text by H. R. LoynH. R. LoynHenry Royston Loyn , FBA, was a British historian specialising in the history of Anglo-Saxon England. His eminence in his field made him a natural candidate to run the Sylloge of the Coins of the British Isles, which he chaired from 1979 to 1993.-Works:The Sylloge's natural emphasis is on...
, drawings by Alan Sorrell, Lutterworth PressLutterworth PressThe Lutterworth Press is one of the oldest independent British publishing houses. It has been trading since the late eighteenth century initially as the Religious Tract Society...
, London 1966 - Prehistoric Britain text by Barbara Green, drawings by Alan Sorrell, Lutterworth PressLutterworth PressThe Lutterworth Press is one of the oldest independent British publishing houses. It has been trading since the late eighteenth century initially as the Religious Tract Society...
, London 1968 - The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version Colour illustrations by Alan Sorrell, William Collins & Sons, London 1968 ISBN 0-7188-1766-4
- Imperial Rome, text and drawings by Alan Sorrell, Lutterworth Press, London 1970 ISBN 0-7188-1367-7
- Stories from Livy by R.M. Ogilvie, original drawings and maps by Alan Sorrell, Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1970 - Nubia: A Drowning Land text by Margaret S. Drower, paintings by Alan Sorrell, Longmans, London & Harlow, 1970. ISBN 978-0-582-16440-6
- British Castles text and illustrations by Alan Sorrell, B T Batsford Ltd, London 1973 ISBN 0-7134-1119-8
- Roman Towns in Britain text and illustrations by Alan Sorrell, forward by Dr Graham Webster, B T Batsford Ltd, London 1976 ISBN 978-0-7134-3237-4
- Medieval Britain Drawing by Alan Sorrell & Richard Sorrell, Lutterworth Press London 1978
- Reconstructing the Past by Alan Sorrell, edited by Mark Sorrell, Batsfords, 1981, ISBN 0-7134-1588-6