The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (223 page)
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Authors: Ian Chilvers
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Hilton , Roger
(1911–75).
British painter of German extraction (Aby
Warburg
was his father's cousin). He trained at the
Slade
School, and in the 1930s also studied in Paris under
Bissière
. In 1942–5 he was a prisoner of war. In Paris Hilton had absorbed a strong feeling for the sensuous qualities of paint, and in the 1950s he became one of the leading British abstract painters, using interlocking coloured shapes. From the mid-1950s he introduced a shallow sense of pictorial space into his work, and no longer eschewed figural elements. In the 1960s he did a series of exuberant, jokey, female nudes that are among his best-known works (
Oi yoi yoi
, Tate, London, 1963). Their sense of good humour is also present in the colourful gouaches he did in the last two-and-a-half years of his life, belying the ill health that by this time kept him bed-ridden.
British painter of German extraction (Aby
Warburg
was his father's cousin). He trained at the
Slade
School, and in the 1930s also studied in Paris under
Bissière
. In 1942–5 he was a prisoner of war. In Paris Hilton had absorbed a strong feeling for the sensuous qualities of paint, and in the 1950s he became one of the leading British abstract painters, using interlocking coloured shapes. From the mid-1950s he introduced a shallow sense of pictorial space into his work, and no longer eschewed figural elements. In the 1960s he did a series of exuberant, jokey, female nudes that are among his best-known works (
Oi yoi yoi
, Tate, London, 1963). Their sense of good humour is also present in the colourful gouaches he did in the last two-and-a-half years of his life, belying the ill health that by this time kept him bed-ridden.
Hirshfield , Morris
.
.
Hirst , Damien
.
.
history painting
.
.
A term applied not only to scenes representing actual historical events, but also to scenes from legend and literature of a morally edifying kind, treated in a suitably grand and noble way. Thus scenes from the Bible, Greek mythology, Dante, or Shakespeare would usually come under the heading ‘history painting’, whereas scenes drawn from a domestic novel might be considered as
genre
pictures, even if set in a period before the painter's own. In conventional academic theory history painting was considered the highest branch of art, to which the
Grand Manner
was appropriate. The American painters
West
and
Copley
were pioneers in painting history pictures in modern dress.
genre
pictures, even if set in a period before the painter's own. In conventional academic theory history painting was considered the highest branch of art, to which the
Grand Manner
was appropriate. The American painters
West
and
Copley
were pioneers in painting history pictures in modern dress.
Hitchens , Ivon
(1893–1979).
British painter, mainly of landscapes. He created a highly distinctive style on the borderline between abstraction and figuration in which broad, fluid areas of vibrant colour, typically on a canvas of wide format, evoke but do not represent the forms of the English countryside that were his main inspiration. From 1940, after being bombed in London, he lived in Sussex. By this time his characteristic manner was fully developed and subsequently his work altered little, apart from the fact that his palette changed from naturalistic browns and greens to much more vivid colours such as bright yellows and purples. Contrary to what often happens when an artist remains constant in one style over a period of decades, Hitchens's work did not become stereotyped or banal. Hitchens also painted flowers and figures, and did several large murals, for example at the University of Sussex (1963).
British painter, mainly of landscapes. He created a highly distinctive style on the borderline between abstraction and figuration in which broad, fluid areas of vibrant colour, typically on a canvas of wide format, evoke but do not represent the forms of the English countryside that were his main inspiration. From 1940, after being bombed in London, he lived in Sussex. By this time his characteristic manner was fully developed and subsequently his work altered little, apart from the fact that his palette changed from naturalistic browns and greens to much more vivid colours such as bright yellows and purples. Contrary to what often happens when an artist remains constant in one style over a period of decades, Hitchens's work did not become stereotyped or banal. Hitchens also painted flowers and figures, and did several large murals, for example at the University of Sussex (1963).
Hoare , William
(
c.
1707–92).
English portrait painter. He spent the formative years of his working life in Italy (1728–37), but his style is a continuation of
Richardson's
. By 1738 he had settled in Bath, and until the arrival of
Gainsborough
in 1759 he was the leading portrait painter of that city. Sir Ellis
Waterhouse
has described his style as ‘serious, but a little blank’. He worked much in
pastel
, and in this was followed by his daughter
Mary
(
c.
1753–1820), also a portraitist.
c.
1707–92).
English portrait painter. He spent the formative years of his working life in Italy (1728–37), but his style is a continuation of
Richardson's
. By 1738 he had settled in Bath, and until the arrival of
Gainsborough
in 1759 he was the leading portrait painter of that city. Sir Ellis
Waterhouse
has described his style as ‘serious, but a little blank’. He worked much in
pastel
, and in this was followed by his daughter
Mary
(
c.
1753–1820), also a portraitist.
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