Franta Belsky

We had some fun yesterday, my wife’s aunt held a party for the reinstallation of her sculpture which was stolen a year or two ago. I was able to complete another one of the edition for her.

After a very good party I remembered that she had lent me a book about a friend of hers called Franta Belsky an accomplished Czech sculptor who settled in England. He had a very interesting life well worth following up .

I rather discounted him because of the rather strange work in Knightsbridge which I do not care for but some of his other work is exquisite and much of it I highly recommend.

He also did some very famous portraits, best known of; Our Queen, Sir Winston Churchill, President Truman and shown above my Regiment’s Colonel, “Colonel Dickie” (Earl Mountbatten of Burma).

I must admit I was a little shocked the first time I saw a picture like this. It was of Churchill himself confronted by this life study with a sly grin on his face. I doubt somehow that he actually posed for this portrait without cloths!

8 Responses to Franta Belsky

  1. marlyat2 October 10, 2007 at 3:00 pm #

    Winston!

    Give the man a leaf, willya?

    So is the new sculpture locked into place?

  2. Robert October 10, 2007 at 4:16 pm #

    Thought you’d like that Marley. Yes, lots of security measures this time.

  3. Susangalique October 11, 2007 at 2:56 am #

    I cant believe someone would steal a private sculpture like that.

    That picture is great. What a fab courtyard area.

    The naked Churchill is so funny. You know my dad got to meet him, it was one of his favorite stories.

  4. chris miller October 15, 2007 at 2:26 am #

    Thanks for the new name to add to my list (#988)!

    And… is that you ( looking quite baronial ) in the pink shirt?

  5. lee October 15, 2007 at 10:08 am #

    hello Robert,
    fantastic work, its hearting to see it.
    my very best wishes
    John Lee

  6. Robert October 15, 2007 at 10:19 am #

    No Chris, I was behind the camera as usual!

    My next exhibition blog will have some pictures posted nearer the date and I will put up lots of photos of the event afterwards.

    We get the catalogue early next week so that will be the time to post up lots of pictures and a pdf.

  7. Robert October 15, 2007 at 10:21 am #

    Lee welcome. I love your sketches I will have a longer look soon.

  8. marlyat2 October 18, 2007 at 1:55 pm #

    “Baronial in pink.”

    Odd. I like that.