Mark Gertler’s portrait of Thomas Balston

*Oil on canvas, 1921*
Mark Gertler’s portrait of Thomas Balston
Balston came from a family of paper makers and had an interest in art, specifically wood engraving. As a director of Duckworth and Co, he promoted this art form and published a few books on the subject. This painting by Gertler marked the start of his directorship at Duckworth, following a stint in Italy as a tutor to the Counts Spaletti and a notable career in the military during WWI. By 1940 he had been awarded a Military Cross and an OBE. By all accounts a colourful character, an associate of the group of ‘bright young things’ and this portrait captures the essence of his energy.