Gerald Festus Kelly

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Sir Gerald Festus Kelly (April 9, 1879 – January 5, 1972) was a British painter best known for his portraits.

Kelly was born in London, educated at Cambridge University, and later lived and studied art in Paris.^[1] James McNeill Whistler was an early influence. Kelly travelled much, visiting Spain, America, South Africa and Burma.

In 1920 he married Lilian Ryan, who became his model for a celebrated series of portraits. These were exhibited under the title Jane, followed by a roman numeral that corresponded to the year of exhibition.^[2] Other sitters included T. S. Eliot and Somerset Maugham, whom he painted several times. Maugham wrote an introduction to a catalogue (1950) of an exhibition of Kelly's work.

He became a favourite painter of the Royal Family. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1930, was the Academy's keeper 1943-45 and President, 1949-54. Kelly held a number of official positions, such as his membership of the Royal Fine Arts Commission, 1938-43, and was knighted in 1945. The artist John Napper worked as his assistant.^[1]

Kelly died in Exmouth in 1972. He is represented in many public collections, including the Tate Gallery, which holds seven works.

His sister, Rose Edith Kelly, was briefly married to Aleister Crowley.

[edit] Notes

^ ^a ^b Sir Gerald Festus KellyPortfolio at Liss Fine Art
^ Postle and Vaughan, 1999, p. 104.

[edit] References

Hudson, Derek (1975). For Love of Painting
Postle, Martin; Vaughan, William (1999). The Artist's Model from Etty to Spencer. London: Merrell Holberton. ISBN 1858940842