Rayner, Hewitt Henry

PAINTER, MYSTIC (AUSTRALIA)
BORN 9 Sep 1902, Hawthorn, Victoria - DIED 25 Apr 1957, Ramsgate
CAUSE OF DEATH suicide by gassing
GRAVE LOCATION London: Highgate Cemetery East, Swain's Lane, Highgate (near to the Chester Road entrance gates)

Hewitt Rayner came to England in 1923. He married in 1926 and had two daughters. During the 1930s he was hardly successful as a painter, but the war changed his luck. His pictures of bombed landscapes and shattered London sold well, although many people didn't like his subjects.

His portrait of George VI was aquired by the queen mother and the Royal Family bought more works by his hand. In 1955 the family moved from London to Ramsgate. His financial position had improved, but his many setbacks in life had broken him and in 1957 he killed himself. His wife and daughters died during the 1990s and were buried near him at Highgate East Cemetery.

Related persons
• was a friend of Sickert, Walter

Images

The grave of Hewitt Henry Rayner at Highgate Cemetery (East), London.
Picture by Androom (18 Mar 2006)

 

Sources
• Culbertson, Judi & Tom Randall, Permanent Londoners, Robson Books, London, 1991
Find-A-Grave
Hewitt Henry Rayner :: biography at :: at Design and Art Australia Online


Récamier, Juliette

Published: 09 Oct 2010
Last update: 19 Jan 2022