John Rothenstein
Encyclopedia
Sir John Knewstub Maurice Rothenstein CBE
(11 July 1901 – 27 February 1992) was an English art historian. He grew up in London the son of Sir William Rothenstein
. The family was loosely connected to the Bloomsbury Set. John Rothenstein studied at Oxford University and became friends with T. E. Lawrence
. He shared rooms with the novelist William Gerhardie
.
From 1938 to 1964 Rothenstein was director of the Tate Gallery
. Rothenstein's directorship — the longest to date — was a period of relative stagnation for the gallery as there were few major bequests or expansions of the building. The Tate's annual purchase fund could not compete with US
institutions so few works of modern foreign art were added to the collection. Rothenstein was publicly dismissive of the influence of the School of Paris
stating that Picasso
was over-rated and had been a critic of the Vorticists. According to Richard Cork
one of Rothenstein's major errors was failing to purchase The Red Studio, a major work by Henri Matisse
, when it was offered to the Tate Gallery for a few hundred pounds in 1941. The art historian Douglas Cooper
began an open campaign
to have Rothenstein dismissed by the trustees leading to an incident in which Rothenstein punched Cooper in the face. In any context Rothenstein's stewardship and preservation of the collection during the war years was a major accomplishment. The Tate also began to host temporary exhibitions during this period organised by the Arts Council of Great Britain
including a major retrospective of Picasso.
Rothenstein was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1948 King's Birthday Honours, and knighted
in the 1952 New Year Honours
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(11 July 1901 – 27 February 1992) was an English art historian. He grew up in London the son of Sir William Rothenstein
William Rothenstein
Sir William Rothenstein was an English painter, draughtsman and writer on art.-Life and work:William Rothenstein was born into a German-Jewish family in Bradford, West Yorkshire. His father, Moritz, emigrated from Germany in 1859 to work in Bradford's burgeoning textile industry...
. The family was loosely connected to the Bloomsbury Set. John Rothenstein studied at Oxford University and became friends with T. E. Lawrence
T. E. Lawrence
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO , known professionally as T. E. Lawrence, was a British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18...
. He shared rooms with the novelist William Gerhardie
William Gerhardie
William Alexander Gerhardie was a British novelist and playwright.Gerhardie was one of the most critically acclaimed English novelists of the 1920s . H.G. Wells also championed his work...
.
From 1938 to 1964 Rothenstein was director of the Tate Gallery
Tate
-Places:*Tate, Georgia, a town in the United States*Tate County, Mississippi, a county in the United States*Táté, the Hungarian name for Totoi village, Sântimbru Commune, Alba County, Romania*Tate, Filipino word for States...
. Rothenstein's directorship — the longest to date — was a period of relative stagnation for the gallery as there were few major bequests or expansions of the building. The Tate's annual purchase fund could not compete with US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
institutions so few works of modern foreign art were added to the collection. Rothenstein was publicly dismissive of the influence of the School of Paris
School of Paris
School of Paris refers to two distinct groups of artists — a group of medieval manuscript illuminators, and a group of non-French artists working in Paris before World War I...
stating that Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
was over-rated and had been a critic of the Vorticists. According to Richard Cork
Richard Cork
Dr Richard Cork is a British art historian, editor, critic, broadcaster and exhibition curator. He has been an art critic for the Evening Standard, The Listener, The Times and the New Statesman. Cork was also editor for Studio International. He is a past Turner Prize judge.-Life and work:Richard...
one of Rothenstein's major errors was failing to purchase The Red Studio, a major work by Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse was a French artist, known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter...
, when it was offered to the Tate Gallery for a few hundred pounds in 1941. The art historian Douglas Cooper
Douglas Cooper (art historian)
Douglas Cooper, who also published as Douglas Lord was a British art historian, art critic and art collector. He mainly collected Cubist works.- Family background :...
began an open campaign
Open campaign
An open campaign can encompass several definitions.An open campaign may be a set of public protest actions against a person , an organization An open campaign can encompass several definitions.An open campaign may be a set of public protest actions against a person (e.g. a politician), an...
to have Rothenstein dismissed by the trustees leading to an incident in which Rothenstein punched Cooper in the face. In any context Rothenstein's stewardship and preservation of the collection during the war years was a major accomplishment. The Tate also began to host temporary exhibitions during this period organised by the Arts Council of Great Britain
Arts Council of Great Britain
The Arts Council of Great Britain was a non-departmental public body dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts in Great Britain. The Arts Council of Great Britain was divided in 1994 to form the Arts Council of England , the Scottish Arts Council, and the Arts Council of Wales...
including a major retrospective of Picasso.
Rothenstein was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1948 King's Birthday Honours, and knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 1952 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
.