Cosmo Clark

Cosmo Clark attended Goldsmiths’ College of Art before he enlisted and fought with the London and Middlesex Regiment in World War I. There he sketched soldiers at the front and was awarded the Military Cross in 1918. After the war, he continued his studies at the Academie Julian in Paris. Clark was married to Jean Clark, and they both studied at the Royal Academy School. After some time spent in United States, the couple returned to London, where they set up their studio in Hammersmith. He was then Director of the Royal Industries Bureau from 1942-63.

Clark painted street views, harbor and industrial scenes as well as sports motifs, mostly in oil and watercolors. The excellent 1946 painting (oil on canvas, 82.5 x 129.5 cm) is known as Scullers and Eights at Henley but is also exhibited by the artist as Scullers and crews practicing on the Thames been. In 1948 it was awarded an “Honorable Mention”. The work was last sold at Christie’s in 2012 for around 70,000 euros. Londoners skating by Moonlight can be found in the illustrations section of the 1948 art catalogue.