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Leonard Rosoman

Sue Lawley's castaway is World War II artist Leonard Rosoman.

Leonard Rosoman's career saw him travel the world as an Official War Artist in the Second World War. He is also a member of the Royal Academy, an illustrator and teacher. The young Leonard dodged the family business by getting a scholarship to the Edward VII School of Art in Durham and went on to paint and teach. When war broke out Leonard was drafted into the Auxiliary Fire Service in London but he didn't stop painting, and he used his experiences to create some of his finest work. This drew him to the attention of the Home Office, and Sir Kenneth Clarke asked him if he would be an Official War Artist. He agreed and was appointed an official war artist to the Admiralty and was posted to the British Pacific Fleet. In April 1945 was posted to Sydney and from there he joined HMS Formidable.

After the war Leonard went back to teaching, first in London then to Edinburgh College of Art in 1948, and later on to the Royal College of Art where he met his most memorable student - David Hockney: "I didn't find him at all difficult, but it was a little bit scary because if anybody ever had something written on his forehead, he had. Every single member of that staff pretty well guaranteed that when David left, he would be a success of some kind. He was a very rare bird - he had a quality of understatement - rare and important in its way."

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: I Got A Gal in Kalamazoo by Glenn Miller & his Orchestra
Book: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Luxury: A sloping lawn

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 14 Jun 2002 09:00
麻豆社 Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    1st movement of Piano Sonata in E

    Soloist: Myra Hess

    • Great Pianists of the 20th century.
    • Philips.

  • Kathleen Ferrier

    Stuttering Lovers

    • The World of British Folk Songs.
    • Decca.

  • Duke Ellington & His Washingtonians

    Black and Tan Fantasy

    • Early Ellington.
    • GRP.

  • Oklahoma

    Artist: Original Broadway Cast

  • Maurice Ravel

    Piano Trio in A minor

    Orchestra: Florestan Trio

    • Debussy, Faure, Ravel Piano Trios.
    • Hyperion.

  • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Sleeping Beauty - Panorama Act 2

    Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra Conductor: Eugene Ormandy

    • Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty.
    • RCA.

  • 脡dith Piaf

    La Vie en Rose

    • Legends of 20th Century: Edith Piaf.
    • EMI.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Glenn Miller Orchestra

      I Got A Gal in Kalamazoo

      • Glenn Miller & his Orchestra.
      • Empress Records.

  • Book Choice

    • Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce

  • Luxury Choice

    • A sloping lawn

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Leonard Rosoman

Broadcasts

  • Sun 9 Jun 2002 11:15
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Fri 14 Jun 2002 09:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4

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