Defence Against the Dark Arts Part XV: The artwork of Rex Whistler

The artist and designer Rex Whistler got a brief mention in an article about Beverly Nichols, some of whose books he illustrated. This was a good match: they had a lot in common. Both men were members of the Bright Young Things set for example, and both had a style that has been described as whimsical, quaint and twee. 

Rex Whistler was a very prolific producer of romantic and beautiful images during his short life. He illustrated a variety of books; he produced artwork for advertisements; he painted portraits of members of London society, decorated the homes of the aristocracy and created designs for the stage.

I like his elegant, baroque style very much. There are many images of his work online, so I will feature just a few good examples. 

This poster from 1928 is an advertisement designed to encourage people to use public transport for visiting the London Museum. The poster depicts Britannia arriving in a carriage pulled by a unicorn and being greeted by a policemen, a cherub holding a London Museum guide and a dog. Several statues, including Nelson on top of his column in the background, acknowledge her presence by bowing and doffing their hats:

Spring is from 1929:

His Little Mermaid is in a slightly different style:

This poster from 1928 is an advertisement designed to encourage people to use public transport for visiting the Tate Gallery:

The controversial mural in the Tate Gallery
Rex Whistler's most famous work is the floor-to-ceiling mural The Expedition in  Pursuit of Rare Meats, which is on the walls of the Rex Whistler Restaurant in the Tate Gallery – now Tate Britain - in London.

He completed this work in 1927, his 22nd year.

I was very impressed the first time I saw the mural; it made the high prices for the food seem worth it!

It is many years since I last visited the Tate. I would like to see the mural again, but it is under threat because of modern political correctnes: some people see parts of it as offensive. 

The Rex Whistler Restaurant is currently closed and may never re-open; the future of the mural is uncertain.

The mural as a background to the diners:

A non-controversial scene:

Rex Whistler's early death
Rex Whistler was born in 1905 and died in 1944: he was killed in action in France during the Second World War. He is said to have known in advance that he was going to die.

Self-Portrait in Welsh Guards Uniform (1940):

In addition to Rex Whistler's legacy of diverse artwork we have the many books that have been written about him and his creations, including some by his brother Laurence. I hope very much that they will help to keep his name alive.