***WITHDRAWN***
Elizabeth Rivers RHA (1903-1964)
'The Bar Scene', Dublin 1956
Oil on board, 39 x 29cm (15¼ x 11½")
Signed with initials; also signed twice and inscribed with title on artist's label...

***WITHDRAWN***
Elizabeth Rivers RHA (1903-1964)
'The Bar Scene', Dublin 1956
Oil on board, 39 x 29cm (15¼ x 11½")
Signed with initials; also signed twice and inscribed with title on artist's label verso

Born inHertfordshirein England in 1903, Elizabeth Rivers was educated atGoldsmiths College, London. In 1926 she won a scholarship to the Royal Academy schools, where she trained underWalter Sickert. She moved to Paris in 1931 and continued her training underAndré LhoteandGino Severini. By 1932 she was considered part of the Twenties Group and exhibited work at theWertheim Galleryin London.

It was after that, that Rivers went to live on theAran Islands. Her first bookThis Manpublished by The Guyon House Press in 1939 was written while she was on Aran. She also wrote a book entitledStranger in Aranwhich was published in 1946. A portfolio of her wood engravings was published by the Waddington Galleries. Except for a short period during the Second World War and in 1955, Rivers lived in Ireland where she also worked withEvie Honeon designs for stained glass. During the Second World War she lived in London and worked as a fire warden during the blitz.She also exhibited in theNew English Art Club, theRoyal Academy and the Royal Hibernian Academy.

While she was living in the west of Ireland she became friends withThe White Stag groupfounderBasil Rakoczi. He commented in a letter in 1942 about her:

"Miss Rivers. Her book This Man is certainly her best work. [...] the strange thing is her ability to draw male nudesI have never known a woman draw the male body well before ... She ... is awfully interesting though very reserved ... I really think she is a genius mislaid."

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