Brian Sewell

Brian Sewell
Name	Brian Sewell
Caption	Sewell in 2010
Birth name	Brian Sewell
Birth date	15 July 1931
Birth place	London, England
Death date	19 September 2015
Death place	London, England
Education	Courtauld Institute of Art
Occupation	Art critic, journalist, broadcaster
Known for	Acerbic criticism for the Evening Standard
Employer	Evening Standard
Partner	Desmond Corcoran

Brian Sewell was a prominent and often controversial British art critic, journalist, and broadcaster, renowned for his acerbic wit and deeply conservative views on modern and contemporary art. For over three decades, he was the chief art critic for London's Evening Standard, where his erudite yet scathing reviews became a distinctive feature of the city's cultural landscape. His television appearances, particularly for the BBC, and his unmistakable, plummy accent made him a widely recognized public figure, embodying a combative and uncompromising approach to art criticism.

Early life and education

He was born in London, though he maintained a lifelong mystery about his parentage, suggesting he was the illegitimate son of the composer Peter Warlock. He was raised primarily by his mother and grandmother in Notting Hill and later Kensington. His education began at the independent Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, after which he completed National Service with the Royal Army Service Corps. He then pursued his passion for art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art, studying under the renowned director and scholar Anthony Blunt, a relationship that would later fuel significant public speculation.

Career in journalism and criticism

After working for Christie's auction house and as a picture restorer, he began writing for the Evening Standard in 1984, quickly establishing himself as its lead art critic. His criticism was characterized by a fierce adherence to the standards of Old Master painting and a notorious disdain for much of modern art, particularly movements like Young British Artists, whom he frequently lambasted. He was a staunch critic of figures such as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and the Turner Prize, which he viewed as a symbol of artistic decline. Despite his provocations, or perhaps because of them, his column was immensely popular and influential within the London art scene.

Television and broadcasting

His distinctive voice and persona made him a natural for television, where he became a familiar face on arts programs. He presented several series for the BBC, including Brian Sewell's Grand Tour and The Naked Pilgrim, which explored the cultural history of Europe and Christian sites respectively. He also appeared as a guest critic on shows like The Culture Show and was a frequent contributor to radio programs on BBC Radio 4, such as Front Row. His broadcasting work significantly widened his public profile beyond the readership of his newspaper column.

Controversies and public persona

He was a figure of constant controversy, often accused of elitism, prejudice, and deliberately provocative statements. His criticism was frequently personal, dismissing artists like Hockney and Lucian Freud in vitriolic terms, and he engaged in public feuds with other critics, including those from The Guardian. Comments perceived as homophobic or misogynistic, particularly a notorious interview in The Independent, also drew fierce criticism, though he identified as homosexual. His persona—the outspoken, reactionary critic—was both his trademark and a source of enduring public debate.

Personal life and death

He was intensely private about his personal life, though it was known he lived for many years in a cottage orné in Hampstead with his long-term partner, the ballet dancer Desmond Corcoran. A passionate lover of dogs, he was a patron of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and died at his home in London later that year. His funeral was held at the Church of St. Mary-the-Virgin in Primrose Hill.

Legacy and influence

His legacy is that of one of Britain's last great, old-fashioned polemical critics, a defender of traditional artistic values in an increasingly conceptual age. While many in the contemporary art world dismissed him as a dinosaur, his vast knowledge, commitment to scholarship, and ability to engage the public with art history were widely acknowledged. His autobiography, Outsider, became a bestseller, and his extensive art collection was bequeathed to the Courtauld Institute of Art. He remains a polarizing but unforgettable figure in the history of British art criticism.

Category:British art critics Category:English journalists Category:1931 births Category:2015 deaths