“His work hung finely framed around the room, honoured in one of the smartest Bond Street galleries. It was difficult to see his paintings, for the huge, long, low-ceilinged hall was crammed with people who seemed to be holding them up by a collective gaze, meshing them to the wall with admiring words. A charming, high-haired woman stood by the door, Handley’s face looking seriously up at her evening dress from a pile of handouts on the table containing his life story, list of exhibited works, a...nd a few reproductions, including one of ‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’ in full colour. This celebrated picture at the far end was impossible to get at, except perhaps over the mass of elegant, poshly coiffeured heads. Cigarette smoke made her eyes sore, or maybe it was the lighting which wouldn’t normally allow one to linger too long at any picture – brilliant and merciless, like the wit overheard when pushing towards some scrap of paint and canvas. After all, it was a party, so she’d be lucky to see anything – or perhaps unlucky, since it wouldn’t be fair to make judgements on a night given over to publicity rather than simple pleasure.MoreLessRead More Read Less
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