| CYRIL MANN (1911-1980) |
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| 1911 Born 28th May, Paddington London, third child of William and Gertrude Mann, both originally from Nottingham. 1914 Parents return to Nottingham with their four children at the outbreak of World War 1 and William Mann is conscripted into the army. 1918 William returns 'shell shocked' and is admitted to a mental hospital where he remains until his death in 1938, leaving his wife alone to bring up their daughter and three sons. 1923 Aged twelve, Cyril is the yougest boy to win a scholarship to the Nottingham School of Art. 1925 Leaves school, fails entrance exanimation to become an office clerk at Boots the Chemist; works for a year as a clerk in an office. |
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Portrait of the artist aged 15, taken shortly before he went to Canada. |
| 1927 Travels to Canada to become a missionary. 1928-31 Abandons religious life and works as a miner. logger, travelling salesman and printer. Virtually isolated from the civilised world on the Alaskan border, the beauty of the surrounding landscape inspires him to start painting again. 1932 Meets Sheffield-born painter and member of the Canadian Group of Seven, Arthur Lismer, and is influenced by the work of these painters. Lismer advises Mann to return to England to continue his art education. |
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Cyril at work in Canada c.1930 |
| 1933-4 Cyril returns to England and settles in London. In the depth of the Depression years, unemployed and often close to starvation, he specialises in water-colours of Paddington and Maida Vale. 1935 Meets Reverend Oliver Fielding Clarke, leading light in the Toc H organisation, who introduces the young artist to Erica Marx, well known art patron. A trust fund is set up to enable him to study at the Royal Academy Schools; he is awarded a place for that academic year. 1938 Leaves RA Schools to continue studying in Paris, supported by Erica Marx. Meets Mary Jervis-Read. |
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The Mann family and friends on a day-trip to Skegness, early 1930. . |
| 1939 Returns to London just before war breaks out and marries Mary Jervis- Read. 1940 Birth of daughter Sylvia. Serves as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery until the end of the war. 1946 Becomes a conscientious objector when conscipted after the war and his case goes to a tribunal. Suffers extreme ill health and stomach ulcers. 1947 Appointed art lecturer at the LCC Central School of Art and continues teaching there until 1949. 1948 Takes part in exibition Artists of Fame and Promise, Wildenstein Gallery. |
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Cyril and Mary with heir daughter Sylvia. 1941 |
1950 |
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Cyril setting up his exhibition at the Park Row Gallery of the Midlands Groupm od Artists in Nottingham. 1953 |
| 1960 Marries Renske van Slooten. Gives up teaching to concentrate on painting full time, mostly in a one-bedroom council flat in Islington. 1963 One man show at St Martin's Gallery. near St Martin's Lane. 1964 One man show at Rawinski gallery, Soho. Moves to Walthamstow, East London. 1965 Paintings selected for one man show at Alwin Gallery, Mayfair. 1966 Joins and exhibits with Contemporary Portrait Society. 1967 Two man show at Alwin Gallery. 1968 Third exhibition at the Alwin Gallery. Birth of second daughter, Amanda Renske Mann. 1969 Moves to Leyton, East London, having use of an entire house for the first time in his life. Paints local scenes including Epping forest. 1970 Shows with Contemporary Portrait Society at Upper Grovenor Gallery and has various private exhibitions backed by Dr and Mrs M.Leibson, patrons of the artist for many years. 1978 Exhibition at Ogle Gallery, Eastbourne. Starts having severe physical and mental health problems. 1979 Several spells in Claybury mental hospital. 1980 Dies in Whipps Cross Hospital 7th January. |
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Cyril and Renske |
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Cyril in the tiny one bedroom council flat at Bevin Court in Islington where he painted most of his early 1960s canvases | |
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Cyril with a fledgling pigeon in the garden of Leyton house. 1978 |