Edna Clarke Hall British, 1879-1979

Provenance

The Artist's Estate; Denis Clarke Hall; by descent
Note: In her autobiography, Clarke Hall wrote of her early years at the Slade: 'Already I was possessed by that touch of genius of which I was scarcely conscious, yet which dominated my life.'

She was surrounded by a close circle of illustrious friends, many of whom would go on to become some of the biggest names in British Modernism. Her closest female friends were Gwen John, Ursula Tyrwhitt, Gwen Salmond and Ida Nettleship. Her wider circle of friends included Ambrose McEvoy, Augustus John, Albert Rothenstein, and William Orpen. Clarke Hall described her circle as existing within 'a generation of students who were brilliant or had arresting personalities.'

Clarke Hall was especially close to Ida Nettleship, who would go on to marry Augustus John and be the subject of some of his most famous paintings. Many of Nettleship's letters to Clarke Hall survive and are overflowing with love for her friend. In August 1895 she wrote: 'I give unto thee from my life a kiss of blessing, a kiss of joy, and a kiss of great love beyond knowledge.' The two regularly encouraged each other to continue to work hard at their art. Clarke Hall wrote of her friendship with Nettleship many years later, 'Ida – her darling presence – her voice – my first real friendship. How dearly I loved her!'