Edward Le Bas RA (1904–1966) was a British artist and art collector.

Biography

Le Bas was born in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

and was the son of a wealthy steel magnate and the brother to the sculptor Molly Le Bas. Le Bas read architecture at

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III of England, Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world' ...

in 1924. He studied for a short while in Paris before studying painting at the

Royal College of Art The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in South Kensington, Battersea and White City. It is the only entirely postgraduate art and design university in the United Kingdom. It o ...

in London from 1924. The family business provided him with a sizable private income which allowed him to travel and paint in Europe and North Africa while also building an art collection of his own. Highlights of his collection were shown as an exhibition, ''A Painter's Collection'', at the Royal Academy in 1963, and received highly favourable reviews. Le Bas was a member of the Bequest Committee established by English sculptor

Francis Leggatt Chantrey Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (7 April 1781 – 25 November 1841) was an English sculptor. He became the leading portrait sculptor in Regency era Britain, producing busts and statues of many notable figures of the time. Chantrey's most notable w ...

, which was designated to fund the purchase of fine paintings and sculptures produced in Britain. Le Bas's collection was described in one review as containing no depictions of violence and having works with a wide variety in comparative quality. As an artist, Le Bas exhibited works, mostly interior scenes and flower works, at the Royal Academy, with the

London Group The London Group is a society based in London, England, created to offer additional exhibiting opportunities to artists besides the Royal Academy of Arts. Formed in 1913, it is one of the oldest artist-led organisations in the world. It was form ...

, the

New English Art Club The New English Art Club (NEAC) was founded in London in 1885 as an alternative venue to the Royal Academy. It continues to hold an annual exhibition of paintings and drawings at the Mall Galleries in London, exhibiting works by both members and a ...

and had solo shows at the Lefevre Gallery and the Michael Parkin Gallery. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1953 and numerous public galleries in Britain, including the Tate, and in Australia and South Africa hold examples of his paintings.

References

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art published the following dated 1st JANUARY 1963. From a Painter's collection - a selection from the collection of Edward Le Bas RA

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Le Bas, Edward 1904 births 1966 deaths 20th-century English painters 20th-century English male artists Alumni of the Royal College of Art Alumni of the University of Cambridge British art collectors English male painters Painters from London People associated with the Tate galleries Royal Academicians Sibling artists