THE OTHER BROTHER
John Nash is the quintessential painter of the British landscape, whose most famous painting, 1918’s The Cornfield, represents an ideal close to the very heart of Englishness. Born in 1893, he was also a distinguished war artist (in both World Wars), a superb wood engraver and inventive illustrator of some 50 books, an inspired watercolourist and draughtsman whose work has always commanded the greatest respect and affection among fellow artists.
Why then is he so little known to the general public? The answer is simple: his brother. Paul Nash was John’s older brother and a very different character, being hugely ambitious, determinedly avant-garde and very good at self-promotion. Although the brothers got on well together (John adored Paul), Paul’s self-built reputation has long overshadowed John’s modesty. There’s a pencil
