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