William Rothenstein & His Circle

William Rothenstein was an artist, critic, teacher, writer, lecturer, prominent member of artistic societies, adviser, gallery co-founder and (briefly) co-manager, and Official War Artist in both world wars. He was also a loyal friend, an early mentor and crucial supporter to many young artists — his ‘energies’, Wyndham Lewis remarked, were ‘parcelled out over a wide field’. Following two exhibitions marking William Rothenstein’s centenary year, Rothenstein’s Relevance (Ben Uri, 2015) and William Rothenstein: from Bradford to Benares (Bradford, 2015),  this lavishly-illustrated associated publication celebrates major themes from Rothenstein’s career. These include Jewish subjects, the ‘coster’ motif, portraiture in Paris, London and Gloucestershire, and Rothenstein’s role as Official War Artist in both the First and Second World Wars. A full catalogue of works and accompanying essays additionally explore Rothenstein’s relationships with and influence upon his (mostly younger) contemporaries including Mark Gertler, Eric Kennington, Jacob Kramer, and Alfred Wolmark, who were all either influenced directly by or work alongside Rothenstein.