Mark Gertler. Fragments of a biography - ACE109.2

Commentary (over early photographs of London street, children, etc): "In 1890, escaping fears of persecution … Mark Gertler and his family made the arduous journey from Austria to England and settled in the slums of London’s East End …". Gertler walking round Spitalfields. His VO as he visits his now-derelict childhood home. Self Portrait (1920). Mark Gertler visits the National Gallery; "…it wasn’t until I left school that I came into contact with real art". Various paintings (in sepia). At home; "Whoever heard of a Jewish artist, anyway? …". Gertler takes some of his work to the Regent Street Polytechnic, where he is accepted as a student. Lecture on the history of art. Gertler working on a still life: "I was determined to paint better than any of the Christians around me…"; Sea Shells (1907). Copying details of other paintings. Still Life with Melon (1908), which won him a bronze medal in a national art competition. Gertler in life class at the Slade School; his work is criticised by Henry Tonks, and he gets sympathy from Dora Carrington.