Brilliant Destiny: The Young Augustus John

A talk for Ashmolean Museum Members.

'When [Augustus] John died in 1961, The New York Times described him as "the grand old man of British painting and one of the greatest in British history." Today, however, his achievements are largely overlooked.' Dr Haycock in his book, Brilliant Destiny.

Augustus John is one of the great enigmas of 20th-century British art.

By 1910, he was acknowledged widely as one of the most talented and promising young artists in this country – the Welsh equivalent, perhaps, of Gauguin or Picasso.

Dr Haycock will explore John’s early years from 1878-1919, up to the end of the Great War, when his reputation was at its height. His book Brilliant Promise: The Age of Augustus John will be published in summer 2023.

Tickets are £15 in-person and £10 online. Tickets are only available to Ashmolean Members. This talk will take place in the Ashmolean's Lecture Theatre (in-person) and on Zoom (online).