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John BratbyBorn in London in 1928, John Bratby studied at the Royal College of Art, where he later taught. He was an English painter who was at the forefront of the 'Kitchen Sink' school of realism, concentrating for much of his career on the intense experience of domestic life. His works are held in public and private collections worldwide. He died in 1992.
In a letter dated 8 February 1989, he wrote about the self-portrait shown here:
'The picture is oil paint on paper and made in Teddington in a room opposite Home Park or Bushy Park in the year 1949 or 1950 when I was about 21. I had failed the examination at Kingston Art School, lost an ex-service grant, and was living on a £400 inheritance. In 1951 I got into the Slade and Royal College of Art, and chose the latter.'
Paintings
