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Stephen Tomlin (2 March 1901 – 5 January 1937) was a British artist associated with the Bloomsbury Set. He was the youngest son of the judge and law lord Thomas, Lord Tomlin of Ash.
Tomlin studied classics at 
One of Tomlin's boyfriends, known as 'H', also had a relationship with the artist
Life
Tomlin studied classics at New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as its feeder school, New College is one of the oldest colleges at ...
from January 1919. However, he suffered a nervous breakdown following the death of a fellow student and left after two terms. He then became a pupil of Frank Dobson and later established a career as a portrait sculptor.
Tomlin's circle of friends, and sitters for portraits, included many members of the Bloomsbury Group, particularly second generation members like Francis Birrell and David Garnett.
Tomlin was bisexual and had affairs with a number of members of the Bloomsbury set including Henrietta Bingham and Dora Carrington. In 1927 he married Julia Strachey, niece of Lytton Strachey
Giles Lytton Strachey (; 1 March 1880 – 21 January 1932) was an English writer and critic. A founding member of the Bloomsbury Group and author of '' Eminent Victorians'', he established a new form of biography in which psychological insight ...
. His relationships with men are less well attested, probably due to the necessity of concealing homosexual activity which was at that time illegal in the United Kingdom under the Criminal Law Amendment Act
Criminal Law Amendment Act (with its many variations) is a stock short title used for legislation in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Canada, India, Pakistan and South Africa which amends the criminal law (including both substantive a ...
.
One of Tomlin's boyfriends, known as 'H', also had a relationship with the artist Duncan Grant
Duncan James Corrowr Grant (21 January 1885 – 8 May 1978) was a British painter and designer of textiles, pottery, theatre sets and costumes. He was a member of the Bloomsbury Group.
His father was Bartle Grant, a "poverty-stricken" major i ...
. 'H' worked in the drapery department at the now defunct Jones Brothers’ department store on the Holloway Road. When he and Tomlin visited Lytton Strachey at Ham Spray in the 1930s, 'H' was obliged to sleep downstairs with the servants.
Tomlin co-founded The Cranium dining club with David Garnett, another member of the Bloomsbury Group; the club met every month to exchange ideas.
Tomlin died in 1937 at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe, Hampshire.
Further reading
* Michael Bloch, Susan Fox: ''Bloomsbury stud : the life of Stephen "Tommy" Tomlin'', London: M.A.B, 2020,References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomlin, Stephen 1901 births 1937 deaths Artists from London Alumni of New College, Oxford English LGBT sculptors Sons of life peers 20th-century LGBT people