joan manning-sanders

Arts

Deceased: 1913 - 2002 
 
Suggested by Maisy-Sky Lumbers  
 
Maisy writes, “Joan’s story is truly remarkable. Joan Manning-Sanders was once a world-famous child prodigy artist, yet her work didn’t see the light of day for many decades. By the age of 16 she had exhibited several times in London, including at the Royal Academy’s Summer exhibition where she is still the youngest artist to have ever exhibited. Two hardback books were published about her work, one in the UK and one for the American market, and this, together with widespread media coverage, made her a household name. 
 
Having achieved such triumph in her teens, it seems tragic that her artistic career lasted barely a decade and fame soon faded into utter obscurity. Artistic fashion moved away from Joan’s figurative style and her attempts to mould herself into a more modernist technique were unsuccessful. Paintings that had caused a sensation when first exhibited were consigned to the attic, taken off their stretchers and rolled to save space. Works once purchased for substantial sums by enthusiastic collectors have vanished from record and cannot now be traced. Thus, the shining star of Joan the child prodigy vanished from our vision. 
 
Between 1914 and 1927, the Manning-Sanders family lived in Bude, Newlyn and Sennen Cove. When Manning-Sanders was 11, her work was commended by Father Bernard Walke of St Hilary’s Church, Cornwall. He commissioned her to paint a set of six watercolours of the New Testament for the church. Around this time, Manning-Sanders was given her own studio next to the sea.”
 
penleehouse.org.uk