Horace Brodzky

Horace Ascher Brodzky (30 January 1885 – 11 February 1969) was an Australian-born artist and writer most of whose work was created in London and New York.

An associate in his early career of many leading artists working in the Britain of his period, including Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Mark Gertler, and members of the Vorticism movement, he ended his life relatively neglected.

[3] In 1904, his father was bankrupted after losing a libel case arising from an attempt to expose alleged corruption, and Horace moved with his family to San Francisco.

Amongst his friends was Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, who created in 1913 a portrait bust of Brodzky (now in the Tate Gallery, London), and whose biography he wrote in 1933.

[3][4][5] Brodzky is said to have been so engrossed in talk when he visited Gaudier-Brzeska's studio in the King's Road, that he missed the last bus to Herne Hill where he lived.

He makes no preliminary studies, draws no pencil outline, carefully rubbed out afterwards to give a false impression of spontaneity.

He supported himself by teaching and painting stage decor and, from 1948 to 1962, he was art-editor of the Antique Dealer and Collector's Guide, founded by his brother Vivian.

[1][4] In 1963, Brodzky wrote to the collector Ruth Borchard, who had just purchased from him a self-portrait for the sum of 12 guineas (£12.60): Since 1911 I have been connected with the London art world & have exhibited at all important exhibitions…and have worked for modern art... For a long time I have sold none of my work & have had to rely on selling items by other artists that I have collected ...