Curtis Moffat
Encyclopedia
Curtis Moffat was an abstract photographer, color still life and society portraitist. At times he collaborated with Man Ray
.
, New York in 1887, the son of Edwin Moffat and Aline Graves, Curtis was brought up in France before being educated at St. Mark's School
in the USA. He studied painting in New York and was part of a group of artists including George Bellows, Randall Davey, Robert Henri and John Sloan. In 1913-1914 he studied at the Beaux arts
in Paris. One man shows of his work were held in New York in 1916 and 1919. In 1916 he married Iris Tree
, daughter of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
, in New York. A son, Ivan Moffat
, was born in Cuba in 1918. After World War I ended, Curtis and Iris settled in London and he became interested in photography. In 1923 he went to Paris where he was involved with the Surrealists and the Dada movement. He collaborated with Man Ray with whom he developed "painting with light" Rayogram compositions. In 1925 he opened a photographic studio with Olivia Wyndham in London. His large and striking black and white portraits of friends such as the Sitwells, Diana Cooper, Augustus John and Nancy Cunard influenced Cecil Beaton, among others. Two exhibitions of his photographs were held in London in 1925 and 1926. In 1929, financed by the American millionaire, Jock Whitney
, he opened a gallery, Curtis Moffat Ltd., at 4 Fitzroy Square
. Two adjoining houses were converted into showrooms with a flat above designed by the architect Frederick Etchells
. The showrooms combined modern interior design and lighting with one of the first major collections of African tribal sculpture in London. Objects for sale ranged from 16th century antiques to rugs by E. McKnight Kauffer and Marion Dorn, and modern china, silver and glass. The insides of the cupboard doors were painted by Francis Wyndham
. Curtis undertook interior design commissions, often collaborating with John Duncan Miller. In 1930 one of the rooms was converted to a picture gallery and run by Freddie Mayor. Opening with a show of work by Augustus John, Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant among others its last show "Since Cezanne" featured artists such as Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. In 1933 due to the Depression, financial backing was withdrawn and the gallery closed.
Curtis continued to live and work at Fitzroy Square. He and Iris had been divorced in 1932. He returned to portrait photography and also undertook commercial colour photography. He began experimenting with the complex and delicate carbro three colour process. A one man show of his colour photographs, still lifes and compositions with light, was held at the Mayor Gallery in 1925. His work was included in the famous Museum of Modern Art exhibition "Photography 1839-1937". In 1936 he married Kathleen Allan who had worked with him for some years in his studio. A daughter, Penelope, was born in 1938.
Curtis' original and eclectic taste in art and design also extended into the area of gastronomy. He was a leading member of the Wine and Food Society and the Saintsbury Club and a close friend of Andre Simon. His table was famous for its wine and food, the choice of the latter being governed by his selection of the former, according to his son, Ivan. His large flat in Fitzroy Square, perhaps the first and most original of the so-called modern interiors of the late Twenties and early Thirties, was the meeting place for many of the celebrated painters, writers, critics and designers of the day.
Early in 1939, Curtis returned to New York where he held a one-man show of his paintings. He and his family then settled on Martha's Vineyard
in 1940 where he continued to paint until he died in 1949. His photographic archive and papers relating to his gallery, Curtis Moffat Ltd., are in The Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Man Ray
Man Ray , born Emmanuel Radnitzky, was an American artist who spent most of his career in Paris, France. Perhaps best described simply as a modernist, he was a significant contributor to both the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal...
.
Biography
Born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York in 1887, the son of Edwin Moffat and Aline Graves, Curtis was brought up in France before being educated at St. Mark's School
St. Mark's School
St. Mark’s School is a coeducational, Episcopal, preparatory school, situated on in Southborough, Massachusetts, from Boston. It was founded in 1865 as an all-boys' school by Joseph Burnett, a wealthy native of Southborough who developed and marketed the world-famous Burnett Vanilla Extract . ...
in the USA. He studied painting in New York and was part of a group of artists including George Bellows, Randall Davey, Robert Henri and John Sloan. In 1913-1914 he studied at the Beaux arts
Beaux arts
Beaux Arts, Beaux arts, or Beaux-Arts may refer to:* Académie des Beaux-Arts, a French arts institution * Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts, a Belgian arts school* Beaux-Arts architecture, an architectural style...
in Paris. One man shows of his work were held in New York in 1916 and 1919. In 1916 he married Iris Tree
Iris Tree
Iris Tree was an English poet, actress and artists' model, described as a bohemian, an eccentric, a wit and an adventuress....
, daughter of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
Herbert Beerbohm Tree
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree was an English actor and theatre manager.Tree began performing in the 1870s. By 1887, he was managing the Haymarket Theatre, winning praise for adventurous programming and lavish productions, and starring in many of its productions. In 1899, he helped fund the...
, in New York. A son, Ivan Moffat
Ivan Moffat
Ivan Moffat was a British screenwriter and associate producer who, with Fred Guiol, was nominated for an Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay for adapting Edna Ferber's novel Giant into the film Giant....
, was born in Cuba in 1918. After World War I ended, Curtis and Iris settled in London and he became interested in photography. In 1923 he went to Paris where he was involved with the Surrealists and the Dada movement. He collaborated with Man Ray with whom he developed "painting with light" Rayogram compositions. In 1925 he opened a photographic studio with Olivia Wyndham in London. His large and striking black and white portraits of friends such as the Sitwells, Diana Cooper, Augustus John and Nancy Cunard influenced Cecil Beaton, among others. Two exhibitions of his photographs were held in London in 1925 and 1926. In 1929, financed by the American millionaire, Jock Whitney
John Hay Whitney
John Hay Whitney , colloquially known as "Jock" Whitney, was U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, publisher of the New York Herald Tribune, and a member of the Whitney family.-Family:...
, he opened a gallery, Curtis Moffat Ltd., at 4 Fitzroy Square
Fitzroy Square
Fitzroy Square is one of the Georgian squares in London and is the only one found in the central London area known as in Fitzrovia.The square, nearby Fitzroy Street and the Fitzroy Tavern in Charlotte Street have the family name of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, into whose ownership the land...
. Two adjoining houses were converted into showrooms with a flat above designed by the architect Frederick Etchells
Frederick Etchells
Frederick Etchells was an English artist and architect.- Biography :The early education of Etchells was through William Lethaby at the London School of Kensington, now known as The Royal College of Art, which brought him into contact with the Bloomsbury GroupHe was a contributor to the Omega...
. The showrooms combined modern interior design and lighting with one of the first major collections of African tribal sculpture in London. Objects for sale ranged from 16th century antiques to rugs by E. McKnight Kauffer and Marion Dorn, and modern china, silver and glass. The insides of the cupboard doors were painted by Francis Wyndham
Francis Wyndham
Francis Wyndham may refer to*Francis Wyndham *Sir Francis Wyndham, 1st Baronet...
. Curtis undertook interior design commissions, often collaborating with John Duncan Miller. In 1930 one of the rooms was converted to a picture gallery and run by Freddie Mayor. Opening with a show of work by Augustus John, Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant among others its last show "Since Cezanne" featured artists such as Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. In 1933 due to the Depression, financial backing was withdrawn and the gallery closed.
Curtis continued to live and work at Fitzroy Square. He and Iris had been divorced in 1932. He returned to portrait photography and also undertook commercial colour photography. He began experimenting with the complex and delicate carbro three colour process. A one man show of his colour photographs, still lifes and compositions with light, was held at the Mayor Gallery in 1925. His work was included in the famous Museum of Modern Art exhibition "Photography 1839-1937". In 1936 he married Kathleen Allan who had worked with him for some years in his studio. A daughter, Penelope, was born in 1938.
Curtis' original and eclectic taste in art and design also extended into the area of gastronomy. He was a leading member of the Wine and Food Society and the Saintsbury Club and a close friend of Andre Simon. His table was famous for its wine and food, the choice of the latter being governed by his selection of the former, according to his son, Ivan. His large flat in Fitzroy Square, perhaps the first and most original of the so-called modern interiors of the late Twenties and early Thirties, was the meeting place for many of the celebrated painters, writers, critics and designers of the day.
Early in 1939, Curtis returned to New York where he held a one-man show of his paintings. He and his family then settled on Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
in 1940 where he continued to paint until he died in 1949. His photographic archive and papers relating to his gallery, Curtis Moffat Ltd., are in The Victoria and Albert Museum, London.