Basil Jonzen British, 1913-1969

Basil Jonzen was a painter of landscapes, still lifes and portraits, mainly in oils.

He was taught by Bernard Meninsky at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. Early in his career, Jonzen established an extremely successful relationship with The Redfern Gallery who, during the 1930s, arranged for the Artist to travel to and paint in France, mainland Spain, and the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. His shows with the Gallery were sell-outs at a time when few British painters could find success.

Jonzen also exhibited works with the New English Art Club from 1933, the Royal Academy from 1944, the Royal Society of British Artists, and Arthur Tooth & Son Gallery. A popular artist at this time, though also noted for his flamboyant nature with a big black hat, swirling cape and silver-topped cane, Claude Rogers called him 'the great bohemian of our generation'

As a result of his close involvement with camouflage design in Norway and Nigeria during the Second World War, he was invited to lecture in Edinburgh. It was during the War, in 1944 that he met the woman who was to become his wife, the sculptor and teacher Karin Jonzen (1914-1998), then an ambulance driver.

Together they renovated Sir Hugh Lane's studio house in South Kensington, from which they ran a successful Weekend Art Gallery. The gallery was an instant success, and attracted many of the leading collectors of the day, among them the Sainsburys, Epstein, Herbert Read, and Kenneth Clark. After some time away from London with tuberculosis, Jonzen returned to the city to set up the St George's Gallery in Cork Street with Agatha Sadler and Robert Erskine. It was here that a young Elisabeth Frink had her first solo exhibition. His son Martin Jonzen also became a respected artist.

Basil Jonzen’s work is held in a number of public collections, including The Arts Council, Bradford Art Gallery & Museums, Brighton & Hove Art Galleries, and the Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa).