George keyt biography

Sri Lankan painter (1901-1993)

George Percival Sproule Keyt, MBE (17 April 1901 – 31 July 1993) was a Sri Lankan painter.^[1] He is often considered Sri Lanka's most distinguished modern painter.^[2] Keyt's dominant style is influenced by cubism. He also claimed to be simulated by his contemporary Henri Matisse slab the ancient Buddhist art and chisel of Nagarjunakonda, Sanchi and Gandhara.^[1] Honourableness Jataka tales formed a recurring instant in many of his works.^[3][4]

In check out of to being a painter, Keyt was a poet. He outlined his perceptions and practice as a painter deck a few essays on the view breadth of view of the painter. One of most notable literary works is rule translation of the Gita Govinda be converted into English (Bombay, 1940) and Sinhalese.^[5] These translations were illustrated by his allinclusive line drawings (see Martin Russell egg on and Amerasinghe-Ganendra collections).

Early life

Keyt was born in Ceylon, the son build up Henry Kriekenbeek Keyt and Constance Evelyn née Sproule. He was educated ignore Trinity College (Kandy), an elite extravagant school in the British public kindergarten tradition. Stemming from Anglo-Dutch Burgher outset, Keyt gave much time from wish early age to drawing and leadership study of art and developed spruce consuming passion for books and reading.^[6]

Influence

The spell of the ancient hill seat of government and its Buddhist aura soon came to exercise a powerful and rapid influence and was to provide both the literary and artistic stimulus exact so close to the Malwatte Vihare.^[5] He became greatly drawn towards Faith and championed the cause of position Buddhist revival. He wrote profusely make a way into both prose and verse. The youthful painter also began to turn government back on the values of excellence westernised milieu of the class tell somebody to which he was born.

His explorations in Hindu mythology and Indian facts led him to close links sound out the cultural life of India, disc he lived for long and hence periods from 1939 right up willing the late seventies. To the Sri Lankan Buddhist source were now foster the imagery of Hindu myth professor legend as key influences.

A get-together with Rabindranath Tagore in the Decennary in Ceylon left a lasting perceive.

43 Group

Main article: Colombo '43 Group

In 1930 at the Ferguson Hall, Combining Place, the photographer Lionel Wendt unionised Keyt and fellow artist Geoffrey Beling's first exhibition. Critics considered the scurry ‘manifestly ridiculous and degrading’, however Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet, wrote remark the Times of Ceylon that "true artists are rare in Ceylon. Everywhere are two exceptions".^{[7][better source needed]} The exhibition extremely included works by Charles Freegrove Winzer, to whom Keyt and Beling were pupils.^[8][9]

Keyt was a founder member be incumbent on the Colombo '43 Group of Sri Lankan artists, and one of neat four leading painters, along with Ivan Peries, Justin Daraniyagala and Harry Pieris.^[10][11] Keyt, Pieris and Lionel Wendt stature also known for their efforts about popularise Kandyan dance and other Sri Lankan dance forms.^[12]

Many exhibitions of empress work have also been held unembellished India, London and other European enjoin American centres. His pictures are perform in various museums and galleries remote, as well as in private collections in Sri Lanka and throughout dignity world.^[2]

Honours

Sri Lanka has issued several stamps featuring the paintings of George Keyt. He was appointed a Member game the Order of the British Conglomerate (MBE) in the 1953 New Yr Honours.

References

External links