Edwin La Dell (b. Coventry 1914-1970) was a British artist and an official War Artist remembered chiefly for his trailblazing use of lithography, his book illustration and his highly expressive and free colouristic paintings. His works are widely held in the public collections, including the Royal Academy and the Government Art Collection.
La Dell trained at the Royal College of Art, where he won a scholarship in 1935; there, he was taught by John Nash, Gilbert Spencer, Charlies Mahoney and Percy Horton and studied printmaking under Robert Austin. On finishing, he was, in 1938, included in the 28th annual exhibition at Zwemmers of the Senefelder Club of which Frank Brangwyn was President and Matisse and Sir Muirhead Bone were Honorary members. He sold well; his career began successfully, and it wasn’t long before he began teaching – at Camberwell School of Art. During the war he was posted to Belgium, billeted with Mme Berger, the sister-in-law of Magritte. Even during active service he proved an energy and commitment to art that was indefatigable: whilst in Belgium he organised shows of British art with a leading dealer; he was able to meet Magritte and others and attended private collections and life classes. Back home he lost no time in re-establishing his career. A sympathiser during the war with the view of the Artists International Association group, with which he was actively involved, that easel Painting, through its association with privileged patronage, was inaccessible to the majority of people, he made many lithographs and truly embraced the medium of print becoming an innovator in the field. Later, in 1948, his work was included in a survey of 150 years of lithography that began with its invention in 1798. Exhibited alongside Piper, Aldridge, Scott, Bawden, it cemented his reputation. La Dell became a leader in his field. He also returned to teaching: lithography, at the RCA – a course unavailable to him when a student – performing a key role in the transformation of the printmaking department and establishing links and a student exchange programme between the RCA and French schools including the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1969.
Edwin La Dell; watercolour and gouache on paper; 52 x 34.2 cm. £700 (inc. UK delivery) Read more