Anthony Christian
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Anthony Christian (b. October 24, 1945 in London, United Kingdom) is a prominent British painter.
Anthony Christian was granted the privilege, at the age of ten, of studying the techniques of the "Old Masters" at the National Gallery in London. Throughout his time at the National Gallery and for a further seven years Anthony studied at length the works of Rubens, Rembrandt and other Old Masters. His painting and drawing style most resembles the techniques of Leonardo da Vinci and he has dedicated his life to the discovery of all means possible, to paint beautiful works of art.
In his earlier days Anthony earned his living as a portrait artist and painted many of the world's rich and famous, including Lord Mountbatten, Baroness Olympia de Rothschild, Baroness Fiona Thyssen, Count Guido di Carpegna, Lord Lichfield, Blake Edwards, Julie Christie and Terence Stamp.
His work now features in some prominent private art collections. Collections such as Gore Vidal, Baroness Marie-Helene de Rothschild, Viscountess Jacqueline de Ribes, Mrs J Heinz, Bill Blass, HM Queen Elizabeth II, Mrs. James Lipton and Herbie Hancock.
His wife, Marian Fanny Christian, is also an artist. Fanny's style is probably unique in its form and uninfluenced by Christian's work. Her work comes purely from her heart and soul, manifesting itself in a harmony of colour and form upon paper.
[edit] Biography
In 1957 the newspapers announced Anthony Christian ( known at the time as Howard Clanford ) as a Child Prodigy since, at only ten years of age, he was studying art at The National Gallery, making him the youngest person ever to have permission to copy there. This honour is normally reserved for professional artists and students, but certainly never to anyone under the age of eighteen, making Christian's position unique even to this day. For the press that was a story in itself, but the thing that really grabbed their attention was the subject that Christian had chosen to copy and the sheer quality of the painting he was producing.
The painting he was copying was Philip Wouwermans' 'A Cavalry Battle', an extremely large and complicated painting measuring 6 feet by 4 feet 6 inches. So daunting was this painting that no other artist has ever attempted to reproduce it, but at only 10 years of age Anthony Christian was doing exactly that. It took him over six years to complete and during that time he had received offers up to $25,000.
By the early sixties he was making a name for himself as a portrait painter, receiving commissions from the world's rich and famous, which sent him travelling all over the world from New York to Nepal. Come the eighties he had become very well known for his preservation of the Renaissance techniques; Society Magazine referred to him as "the World's fore-most Renaissance-style painter". But commissions never pleased him as his clients rarely wanted an image of themselves as his eye saw them, but rather an idealized version themselves. Christian wanted to become a Master of his own unique style that honoured the techniques of the Old Masters, and he realised that he could not achieve this through endless commissions.
So he left the mainstream market and sought refuge in Asia, and thus Anthony Christian disappeared from the Western World. He continued to paint in Asia, in fact by being free to his own style and inspiration he became extremely prolific. He experimented with technique and genre creating very inspired works. In 1988 he settled in Bali where he established his first gallery which was extremely popular with clients across Asia.
In 1994 he moved to India and found great inspiration in the country's landscape and culture, and later established the Ichor Foundation which has now expanded into India's center for bio-dynamic farming.
He now lives with his artist wife Marian Fanny Christian between the Ichor Foundation in India and his new base in Yorkshire.
| 1945 | Born in London, 24th October, 1945 |
| 1955-60 | Painted in the National Gallery studying painting techniques, received national and international publicity as a child prodigy. |
| 1960 | Began earning a living as a portrait artist. Portraits include Antonio Vargas, Howard Greer and Blake Edwards. |
| 1966 | ROME: Portraits include Count Guido di Carpegna and Prince Edmondo Ruspoli. |
| 1967 | MOROCCO: Portraits include HRH Princess Lala Fattima Zahra and Mr George Ansley. |
| 1968 | LONDON: Portraits include Mr Peter Cazelet, race horse trainer to the Queen Mother, and his family. |
| 1969 | A One Man Exhibition of drawings at the Upper Grosvenor Gallery, London. Received commissions from Cambridge University to draw professors Binnie and French. Also drew the portrait of the Bishop of St.Albans. |
| 1970 | A One Man Exhibition of landscape oils at the Upper Grosvenor Gallery. Painted the portrait of Lord Rothermere. Exhibited at the Albert White Gallery in Toronto. Exhibited at the Palm Beach Gallery in Florida. Portraits in New York include Niccolo Tucci and Henry Mattison. |
| 1972 | One Man Exhibition of landscape oils at the Hazlitt Gallery, London. Portraits include Baroness Fiona Thyssen, Patricia Rawlings, Lord Boothby, and Shawn Phillips. PARIS: Portraits include Baron Alexis de Redé, General Billote and Marisa Berensen. |
| 1973 | ROME: Portraits include Luigi Barzini and his family. FLORENCE: Portraits include Countess Frescabaldi, and Countess Ruccini. |
| 1974 | Exhibited the painting Girl With An Apple at Wildenstein Gallery, London. Portraits include Lord Lichfield, Terence Stamp, Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland. SPAIN: Portraits include Viscomtesse Jacqueline de Ribes. BRUSSELS: Portraits include Count Rene Boel and Sir Christopher Soames. |
| 1975 | LONDON: Portraits include Lord Mountbatten and Vladimir Vasilliev. PARIS: Portraits include Paul-Louis Weiller, Monsieur Jean de Beistegui, Baronne Olympia de Rothschild, Prince Michael de Bourbonne Parme. |
| 1984-85 | Travels through Morocco. Work is sold throughout the United States by Circle Galleries and R K Parker Galleries, New York. |
| 1986 | Exhibits at Hammer Galleries, New York, then travels extensively through Europe. |
| 1988 | Travelled extensively painting in Asia, moved to Bali at the end of the year. |
| 1989 | Built private gallery and museum in Bali, immediately successful with visitors all over the world. |
| 1990 | Independence gained through the 'Collection Ichor' and its many visitors throughout the year, including some of Asia's most important collectors. |
| 1991 | First Catalogue of Limited Edition work, entitled 'A.Christian', is published and meets with great success in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo and the United States. |
| 1992 | Painting in Asia, developing a new concept of showing several pictures at a time portrayed in a single work, entitled 'Door Frames'. |
| 1993 | Extensive travelling arranging the showing of 'Ichor Collection', which now includes 'Door Frames'. |
| 1994 | A dramatic change of style, experimenting within the realms of surrealism. Moves to India and establishes Ichor Foundation. Continues to exhibit throughout Asia and the USA. |
| 2000-05 | Establishes a European base in Yorkshire, England whilst maintaining Ichor in India which has expanded to become a centre for bio dynamic farming. Work exhibited in New Zealand , Australia, Ireland and India. Continues to work in the realms of erotic surrealism. Completed Volume One of God's Brush. |
| 2006 | God's Brush, Volume 1 - The Child That Art Made, Anthony Christian's autobiography published. |
