The quality of Daniel Farson‘s portraits is all the more remarkable given that photography was a relatively minor pursuit for the man better known as a writer and television presenter. He was also a key figure of the post-war Soho social circle, whose members – most notably Francis Bacon – often turn up in Farson’s pictures. This milieu features in a new book, Nights Out by Judith R. Walkowitz (witheringly reviewed in The Guardian as “a study of the urban demi-monde by someone who goes to bed each night at 10″). Many of these studies are currently on display in London’s National Portrait Gallery.
Lucian Freud
Nina Hamnett
Richard Burton
John Osborne
Joan Littlewood
Muriel Belcher
Francis Bacon
John Deakin
Barbara Windsor
Love that photo of Burton
He looks like he’s just been bitching about someone, doesn’t he?
you might like ‘the malayan life of ferdach o’haney’ by frederick lees. though the book is about post war adventures in the colonial service in malaya, the book opens in post war soho, and ms hamnett appears as a sexual provocateur, as any self respecting welsh person should. sadly by the time i was privileged enough to drink at the colony club, most of the great eccentrics, had already had time called. but the spirit of so many clung to the wall, in sketches, photograph, or in conversation. great post, again.
It’s an intriguing premise. Nina turns up in Keith Waterhouse’s Soho, as well as numerous books written while she was still alive.
I especially love Farson’s photo of Muriel Belcher – amazing presence that woman had. I imagine once she was gone the Colony Room would have been a much different place.
Muriel Belcher is a permanent name on my “if you could you invite anyone to dinner” guest list. Love her even more than I love Barbara Windsor’s peroxide dome in that last photo.
Farson’s ‘Gilded Gutter Life of Francis Bacon’ has some wonderful anecdotes about the Soho crowd.
Muriel Belcher! Called the Führer “Miss Hitler” and referred to G.B. Shaw as “that clever little woman”!
Somewhere there’s a clip of Will Self doing a Muriel impression (apparently he knew her before she died).
I love that book! Will Self as Muriel Belcher? What a concept!
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