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52 George Campbell RHA (1917 - 1979)
Carmen Amaya
Ink, 20.5 x 27cm, Signed
Moving to a flat at 42 Oakley Road, Dublin in 1947, Campbell became friendly with
Spanish sailors in the Port of Dublin on one of his walkabouts in the city.
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Following their
conversations, Campbell became fascinated with Spain. He worked for ten weeks as an extra
in ‘Mikado’ in London, 1948, at the D’Oyly Carte Company in Sadler’s Wells. He spent his
free time going backstage to witness and sketch the Carmen Amaya
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dance troupe (C) who
were performing at the Princess Theatre, nearby. Spanish subjects, ‘Backstage’ (C) and ‘Jota’,
(C) were shown at his solo exhibitions with CEMA, 1948, and Waddington, 1949. From this
period music, especially the guitar was his main interest after art.
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Campbell was known to make walkabouts in cities. Arthur Campbell,
Looking Back
, Friars Bush Press, 1989
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Born in Barcelona, Carmen Armaya (1918–63) was a Roman gypsy.
fig.63: George and Madge Campbell at his
exhibition, Waddington Galleries, 1949, with
painting ‘Backstage’ opposite in background.
fig.64: George Campbell and Paddy Cole in
‘Mikado’ at the D’oyly Carte company in Sadler’s
Wells, 1948
fig.65: Spanish Sailors, Dublin
Port, 1946