Sarah - Harmony in Red and Grey

This painting depicts Sarah, a studio model that Howard often used, standing in a room of Howard’s house in the Boulton’s in London. Sarah is gazing away from the viewer towards something just outside of the bounds of the painting. Sarah is mostly nude, although her right side is partially covered by a kimono. Her hair is curled down her body, casting her face in shadow, and a necklace sits between her breasts. In the foreground is a golden coffee pot on a golden tray, whilst a dark floral throw and a brown screen create a backdrop for the model.

Given the painting’s emphasis on yellow, the title’s focus on red and grey almost seems humorous. It indicates that the predominant colours of the image do not matter - all that matters is Sarah, beautiful and harmonious in her red and grey accented kimono. The creation of lighting and atmosphere through colour in this work cement the Howard’s claims that he was ‘the last Impressionist’ - the painting is intimate, with Sarah depicted in a vulnerable manner, whilst the hazy lighting and colour transforms the scene into a romantic one.

Ken Howard

Howard was born in 1932 in London, attending the Hornsey College of Art between 1949 and 1953 and the Royal College of Art Between 1955 and 1958. He served in the Royal Marines for National Service, and was also elected an Official War Artist by the Imperial War Museum. In 1973 and 1978, he painted scenes from the conflict in Northern Ireland, as well as being sent with the British Army to locations such as Belize, Nepal, Germany, Canada, Cyprus and Hong Kong. He was commissioned by The Drapers’ Company, The Haberdashers’ Company, and the United Nations.

In 1983, Howard became an Associate of the Royal Academy, finally becoming a Royal Academician in 1991. Between 1998 and 2003, he was also the President of the New English Art Club. In 2010, Howard received an Order of the British Empire award. Howard was also associated with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours, and the Royal Society of British Artists. Howard was the recipient of a number of awards, including the 1978 John Moores Exhibition, the 1979 John Laing Competition, the 1983 Hunting Group Awards, the 1986 New English Art Club Centenary Award, and the New English Art Club Critics Prize in 2001.

Howard was also a prolific exhibitor of his work, holding his first solo show in 1955 at the Plymouth Art Centre. He exhibited with the John Whibley Gallery in 1966 and 1968, the New Grafton Gallery in 1971, and the Richard Green Gallery in 2004. In 1972, Plymouth City Art Gallery held a retrospective exhibition of Howard’s works.

Ken Howard passed away in late 2022. His work is part of collections including the National Army Museum, the Ulster Museum, and the Imperial War Museum. His works are known for their distinct atmospheres created by his use of colour and light, with common subject matters including city scapes of Venice and London and nude paintings of studio models. Howard described himself as ‘the last Impressionist’ - with his focus on colour and atmosphere, it is easy to understand his claim.