ONE-MAN SHOW

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LXI, Issue 15, 23 February 1940, Page 1

ONE-MAN SHOW

PAINTINGS EXHIBITED BY PAVEMENT ARTIST

THE KING HELPED HIM

TO SUCCESS

(From The Guardian's London

Correspondent)

LONDON, January 20

A one-man art show was opened in London this week by an artist whose first work appeared on the pavement opposite the house where the King once lived. He claims that his Majesty • helped him to success.

Henry Cornell, who has been riveter, newsboy, soldier, hawker, boot repairer, furniture remover, park keeper, car driver, as well as pavement artist in his 54 years, stood in the Leicester Galleries, Leicester-square arid watched? people inspect 40 of his pictures.

Some years ago he was out of a job, with only 2d in his pocket. "I saw a pavement artist at work," he said, "and thought I could do better—so I spent the 2d on chalks. I set myself up in Piccadily, just where you turn round into Constitution Hill. When the police turned me off the pitch I wrote to the King, then the Duke of York. He intervened, and I was allowed to stay on. Sometimes I saw him on the balcony of 145, Piccadily, opposite, looking at my work. On Sundays I had a pitch by St. Michael's, Chester-Square. One day a Colonel Hancock came over and asked me if I had ever painted in oils. I told him I hadn't—and he gave me some materials. I painted three terriers trying to catch coloured ballons—and he bought it for 7/6. That was the first picture I ever sold." For the next three weeks, visitors will pay one shilling each to see his one-man show. The pictures are vividly coloured landscapes, all drawn from memory. Henry Cornell. who never made more than 8/- or 9/- a week as a pavement artist, ' is asking £8 to £12 for his pictures. He has been paid as much as £15 f.or one painting.