LOUIS WAIN’S HOME

Evening Star, Issue 20980, 19 December 1931, Page 12

LOUIS WAIN’S HOME

three devoted sisters. Louis Wain's old home at Brondesbury, tho home where he drew his immortal pictures of cats, has been saved.Mr ‘ Wain had a mental breakdown during the war, and for years lie has been in mental institutions, a tragic, forgotten genius. Every time his sisters went to see him in the mental home at Napsbury he pleaded with them to keep his old home, just as it was, in case he ever came out. The three sisters struggled for years to keep the home intact, but misfortune on top of misfortune compelled them at last to part with many of their own belongings. The story of the sisters’ struggle touched many readers of the ‘ Daily Express.’ They sent cheques and postal orders. People who had known Louis Wain in the height of his fame still remembered him in hia tragic, closing years. A young Scotsman, Mr Alex. Fraser, generously offered the use of his art galleries for an exhibition of Louis Wain’s drawings. Mr Gustav Tuck, of Raphael Tuck and Sons Limited, gave magnificently from his collection of Wain pictures. People came from all , -rts to sea these wonder pictures. The story of the tragic plighf of Louis Wain’s sisters went all round the world, and Mr Fraser got orders for Wain drawings from America, India, and the Continent. The exhibition was so successful it ran nine weeks instead of the four originally intended, and Louis Wain, delighted that the world outside still’ remembered him and admired his genius continued to paint and draw. . . . pictures which revealed a wonderful new talent. About £I,OOO will be available. for Louis Wain’s sisters, enough to keep the old home intact and remove the spectre of hardship which has beeil a nightmare to his three devoted sisters.