John Melville (August 25, 1902 - December 8, 1986) was an English surrealist artist, described by Michel Remy in his book Surrealism in Britain as one of the "harbingers of surrealism" in Great Britain. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early-1920s and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands
He was, along with his art critic brother Robert Melville and the artist Conroy Maddox, a key member of the Birmingham Surrealists from the 1930s to the 1950s. Robert Melville ( December 31 1905 - March 1986 was an English Art critic and Journalist. Conroy Maddox ( 27 December 1912 &ndash 14 January 2005) was an English Surrealist painter, collagist Birmingham Surrealists were an informal grouping of artists and intellectuals associated with the Surrealist movement in art based in Birmingham, England The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive He was a Painter of figures, portraits, still-life and landscapes in oil and watercolor. Self-taught, he was attracted to Surrealism in 1930 and as a member of the Birmingham Group, joined the Surrealist Group in 1938. He was a contributor to the London Bulletin in 1939, and to Arson in 1942.
John exhibited his work first in London at the Wertheim Gallery in 1932, continued to exhibit in other 'places' in London and throughout the UK. His work is represented in a number of important private and public collections and his paintings often showed transformed figures and dream-like, unexpected conjunction of images. During the 1940's he painted portraits and still-life but returned to Surrealism in later works.
Melville's relative isolation led to his work being neglected somewhat, but in recent years his reputation has grown and his singular style has led to his inclusion in a number of public exhibitions - notably "Surrealism: Two Private Eyes" at the Guggenheim, New York in 1999 and "Surrealism in Birmingham" in 2001.