Friday, 28 January 2011

Paintin the Head of Art

Isaac Newton (British Library) 2

Elaine Paintin died a few days ago. Amongst her many contributions to British cultural life, she was the British Library's head of art (1987-97), and trustee and director of the Cartoon Art Museum (1998-2003). She commissioned the emblematic statue of Isaac Newton (by Eduardo Paolozzi), that is the focus of the courtyard to the Library - clearly a sculpture, but also without doubt a Paintin.