Eric Newton (art critic)
| Eric Newton | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
Eric Oppenheimer 28 April 1893 Marple Bridge, Manchester |
| Died | 10 March 1965 London |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | University of Manchester |
| Spouse(s) | Stella Mary Pearce |
Eric Newton (1893–1965) was an English artist, writer, broadcaster and art critic. He produced several books in addition to his newspaper and radio work and created mosaics for Ludwig Oppenheimer Ltd, mostly on a religious theme. His radio broadcasts made him well known to the British public in the 1930s.
After gaining a BA from Manchester University in 1913, he worked as a designer at Ludwig Oppenheimer Ltd, the mosaic firm founded by his grandfather and based in Old Trafford, Manchester. His work, and that of the Oppenheimer firm is still to be seen in several churches in Britain and Ireland. He took part in the Paris exhibition in 1925.
He is best known as an art critic and writer. He was appointed art critic of the Manchester Guardian in 1930, although he had provided copy for that paper for some years prior to this. He was art critic for The Times for three years from 1947, and wrote frequently for the New York Times and Time and Tide magazine.
Newton delivered radio lectures on art, notably the 1935 BBC 12 part series "The Artist and his Public" subsequently turned into the first of several books. and took part in the radio arts series The Critics. In this programme, his Times Obituary states "his lucidity and critical sense were trenchantly displayed". The Oxford Dictionary of Art describes him as "a clear and polished writer and also an articulate lecturer and radio broadcaster".
These broadcasts made his name well known and local newspaper archives reveal that Newton was clearly in demand, delivering public lectures across the country in the late 1930s and 1940s.
Newton undertook lecture tours to North America in 1937, 1953 and 1956, the 1937 tour of Canada was sponsored by the National Gallery of Canada. His diary of this tour was subsequently published (see below). The 1956 tour included the Memorial University of Newfoundland where he lectured on modern art. A photograph exists in the university archives. Newton was lecturer in art history at the Central School of Art and crafts from 1963.
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