 |
Nikolaus Pevsner (l902 -l983) and his wife Lola's grave at Clyffe Pypard |
German-British art historian and architectural historian
Sometime ago I dismissed Pevsner's great output of writing on the architecture of English churches and felt guilty at the time. So when I saw this photo some days ago I hunted around for books on the subject. Google Books are very good on this by the way.
He came from Germany and although he became nationalised as English he of course suffered from racism.
he lived next door to the Grigson family for a short time, Geoffrey Grigson being a great favourite of mine (book noted along the way - an autobiography by Grigson - The Crest on the Silver) but they were neighbours and were companiable enough. Though Grigson did say of Pevsner 'that he had no soul and no real love of art or literature'.
The current criticism at the time said of him that Pevsner suffered from 'German dryness and Teutonic thoroughness.' The other person (another favourite) was John Betjeman who conducted a campaign against Pevsner for years. He wrote 'The Herr-Professor-Doktors are writing everything down for us ... so we need never to bother, to feel, or think or see again'
This made Pevsner research the English hatred of foreigners, and now I am beginning to feel rather sad for someone whose cultural (but dull genius) writings we should admire.
I find it strange in our modern world how much literature meant in the early 20th century. No cameras or video cameras, no mobile phones or computers to write or picture on. But what we have lost from those golden ages is the ability to write for long periods on subjects that mattered. Whether it be literature, art or history. AI has given us instance access to knowledge, but it is flimsy and short, just picking salient features.
Anyway the photo came from this blog in 2009, I wonder if there was a part two? Another blog popped up at the same time, this time of St. Catherine's church in Winterbourne Bassett. A pretty little church with a rather magnificent wooden font cover. Snap on the photographs for decent images.
 |
| Paul tackling off-roaders at Avebury. Goodness know where they had departed though! |
Yes, there was a time when everyone went to Pevsner for info on churches - but I had forgotten about him and on looking through my bookshelves can't find a single book by him. Interesting hi m living next door to Geoffrey Grigson - another one who has faded into obscurity.
ReplyDeleteGrigson seemed to know many people in the arty and literature circles Pat. He wrote a lot, worked in the BBC and was generally an all rounder I think. They did not live long as neighbours, but would share Pevsner's coal hole when the bombs dropped.
ReplyDeletePevsner had the clinical eye of the outsider. I am very grateful for it.
ReplyDeleteA cold personality brought on by finding himself in a country that was far from sympathetic to him. But he was able to analyze our architectural and art rationally. Be interesting to explore his character Tom, but the books from this period are expensive.
Delete