SUICIDE OF ARTIST

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3232, 29 June 1928, Page 2

SUICIDE OF ARTIST

LEAP FROM HIGH BRIDGE,

SIX MYSTIC PAINTINGS,

There is no provision in Scottish law for a public inquiry into a death in the circumstances in which the artist, Mr Charles Sims, K.A., met his end, and therefore no official information will be issued. He was found drowned in the Tweed between St. Bagwell's and Melrose. In the pockets of his clothing were a number of stones. A prominent resident in the district has given some information to a newspaper, however.

'' On the day of his death,'' the .resident said, "Mr Sims went out of the house where he had been staying with friends, leaving behind a note in which he said that he intended to end his life. A search party was formed and the body was found in about 2ft. of water, within. 200 yards of the house. There were; injuries on the head and body, which suggested that he had fallen some distance. His pockets were full of stones similar to those used as ballast on the railway. This fact has led to the belief that Mr Sims climbed on the railway viaduct which crosses th.c river about a quarter of a mile from the house, and, after filling his pockets with stones, leapt 150 ft. into the river below. A curious fact in connexion with the death of Mr Sims was brought to light by Mr C. H. West, who was Mr Sims' picture agent. He said that the artist had twice written to him asking that the mystic paintings, which he had deposited with Mr West, should be delivered at the Royal Academy on April 11 without fail. The date was only two days before Mr Sims met his tragic death.

A POSSIBLE FOREBODING. "I am wondering now whether there was any significance in his instructions," said Mr West.. "Had he some foreboding of his death, and wished to make sure that these pictures, representing his last and perhaps most original effort, should reach the Academy for exhibition before he died?"

Since Mr Sims returned from the United States he had almost given up his career as a portrait painter, and devoted himself to painting visionary pictures of a spirit world. In 1926 he resigned his position us Keeper of the Royal Academy. It was stated at the time that the reason was resentment of the criticism of the artist's portrait of King George wearing the Order of the Garter. This portrait caused a storm of controversy. It was stated that the artist had not done justice to his sub; ject, but Mi- Sims retorted that as the King was no longer a young man he had not painted him as such.

In his early days Mr Sims went through a long period of struggle. As a boy he learned shorthand in the hope of going into business, but, on the strength of having sold two sketches [for two guineas each, he decided to make art his career. After, a period at South Kensington he studied at Julian's Studio in Paris, and with a fellow student spent his aftejrnoons drawing whatever he saw in the street and his evenings as a billiard marker in a cafe to supplement his small nieans. Two of the artist's paintings, "The Fountain" and "The Wood Beyond the World" are in the Tate Gallery. ±t is as a portrait painter, However, that Mr Sims is best known.

EXHIBITION OF MYSTIC WORKS.

The Royal Academy have decided to show the six pictures by the late artist though there had been some disagreement among the selection committee. In the course of an interview Sir Frank Dicksee, president of the Academy, said: "These six pictures are completely foreign to the artist. They show no relationship to his earlier work. I say it with proper respect for a. notable artist when I suggest they have the appearance of the work of a disordered mind. They have none of Mr Sims' fine craftsmanship; evidently I they are hastily done.

"There is no question of Mr Sims having suddenly transferred his technique to a new school; for such changes are gradual, and these pictures are startlingly unexpected, coming from Mr Sims. They bear the stamp of no school. I fear that Mr Sims may not have been himself when he set them

down.''