Metadata: Correspondence, drawings and photographs of Michael Ayrton
Collection
- Country:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Holding institution:
- Tate Archive
- Holding institution (official language):
- Tate Archive
- Postal address:
- Tate BritainMillbankLondonUnited KingdomSW1P 4RG
- Web address:
- https://www.tate.org.uk/art/archive
- Reference number:
- TGA 811
- Title:
- Correspondence, drawings and photographs of Michael Ayrton
- Title (official language):
- Correspondence, drawings and photographs of Michael Ayrton
- Creator/accumulator:
- Ayrton, Michael
- Date(s):
- 1939/1958
- Language:
- English
- Extent:
- 1 box
- Scope and content:
- This collection comprises correspondence from artists and art world figures sent to Michael Ayrton dated 1939-1958. The letters concern Ayrton's role as an art critic and in particular his friendship with John Minton. Accompanied by two drawings by Ayrton and four photographs of John Minton. When purchased the collection included three exhibition catalogues and one journal which were transferred to Tate Library.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Michael Ayrton met John Minton in April 1938 when they visited Paris on a trip organised by St Johns Wood Art School where they were students. They decided to return to Paris on finishing their studies and Minton moved first, in January 1939, after a holiday in Switzerland. He arranged for Ayrton's arrival and they shared adjoining studios as well as spending much of their time together visiting the ballet and exhibitions. In the summer of 1939 they made trips to Les Baux and Provence with Michael Middleton. In August, Ayrton visited Holland and when hostilities broke out he returned to England. Minton was advised to leave France and returned to England in September with as many of their possessions as he could manage. Back in England Minton stayed with Ayrton and his mother until December 1939 when he returned to live with his own mother in Carshalton. In 1941 Ayrton was commissioned by John Gielgud to design the set and costumes for a production of 'Macbeth'. He invited Minton to collaborate on the venture. However problems arose when both artists were drafted and much of their collaboration was done by post or in brief leaves from the forces. Ayrton was drafted to the RAF in October 1941, Minton having registered as a conscientious objector in September 1939. John Minton's tribunal was held in February 1940 but his appeal was rejected and in December 1941 he joined the Pioneer Corps. The production of 'Macbeth' toured in the first half of 1942 and Ayrton was invalided out of the services in winter 1942. Ayrton and Minton held a successful joint exhibition at the Leicester Galleries in October 1942. On the strength of this Ayrton gained a teaching post at the Camberwell School of Art. Meanwhile Minton was undergoing officer training at Wrotham and was posted to Barmouth in North Wales. It was here that he wrote a letter to Ayrton expressing his feelings for him and his own homosexuality, a subject that he had kept secret from his friends until 1943. This letter, perhaps the most moving in the collection, was kept by Ayrton in his wallet (TGA 811.64). Stationed in Little Missenden Minton had a breakdown and was sent to military hospital from where he was discharged. In the autumn of 1943 he obtained a post with Ayrton at Camberwell.
- Access points: persons/families:
- Ayrton, Michael
- Minton, John
- Subject terms:
- Art
- Correspondence
- Access, restrictions:
- Open
- Finding aids:
- Online catalogue.
- Yerusha Network member:
- AIM25
