Augustus John

British, b.1878, d.1961

Drawing for ‘The Welsh Baptism’

  • Charcoal and wash
  • Presented by Miss Maureen Raymond, 1965
  • 520 x 393mm
  • 69/368

Augustus John displayed his quite extraordinary gift as a draughtsman from the time he was a student at the Slade School in the mid-1890s. In the early years of the 20th century John was ranked as one of the most progressive figures in British art.

This drawing is a study for the painting of the same title, which depicts a Welsh pastor baptising a young woman in a mountain lake. It dates from the early period of John’s career.

John was born at Tenby, Wales and was the brother of the painter Gwen John. He studied at the Slade School of Art between 1894 and 1898 and was a regular exhibitor with both the New English Art Club and the Royal Academy. John was made a member of the Royal Academy in 1928. He travelled widely throughout Europe and also visited the United States of America.

Exhibition History