No To 'Masterpiece' Boy

He Spends Six Years On Painting

A sixteen year old boy, who has spent six years painting an exact copy of a National Gallery masterpiece, has been refused admission to the Royal College of Art. He was told he must first produce "evidence of exceptional talent."

Anthony Howard (Christian) worked in Room 12 on his 54in. by 75in. canvas. The painting he chose to copy - "because of it's detail, action and horses" - was "The Cavalry Charge" by the seventeenth-century Dutch master Phillip Wouwermans whose work is represented in many great European collections. Anthony, who since he left school last year has worked at jobs varying from potato-peeling to furniture removing, added: -
"I should like to sell this first big work of mine for something up to £1,000 so that I can concentrate on art studies and buy materials for possible commissions."

Professor Weight said: "I was quite impressed with his determination, but I didn't judge him as abnormally talented from the work he showed me. I haven't seen his big painting."

Tow-headed Anthony showed me his completed painting at his flat in Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, and said: -
"I have never had a painting lesson in my life. But now I think it is time I did, because I want to concentrate on religious murals. When I went along to see Professor Carol Weight, head of the Royal College of Art, he told me that, apart from being too young, I must show proof that I had exceptional talent."

This canvas depicts a cavalry clash in all its wealth of furious detail for which Wouwermans is renowned. True, you could tell the master's work by its unique quality and brushmanship. But that of his youthful copyist was faithful in every detail and captured the feeling of the exhilarating composition.

Anthony Christian's "The Battle Scene" was completed in 1961. It took him over six years to complete, during which time he had received offers up to £8000. It was his first major work and is currently on display in The ICHOR Gallery in Yorkshire.
For more information, call +44 (0) 113 281 1223 or email maura@ichorgallery.com to contact the artists.