early life and career
mark gertler, a british painter of figure subjects, portraits, and still-life, was born on december 9, 1891, in spitalfields, london. his early life and relationship with
dora carrington were the inspiration for gilbert cannan's novel mendel. gertler's forename was anglicised from "marks" to "mark" in 1896, when his family joined his father in london. gertler showed signs of a great talent for drawing from an early age. he enrolled in art classes at
regent street polytechnic in 1906 but was forced to drop out due to poverty. in 1908, he began working as an apprentice at
clayton & bell, a stained glass company, while attending evening classes at the polytechnic.
rise to prominence and notable works
gertler's career took off when he was placed third in a national art competition in 1908. he then enrolled at the
slade school of art in london, where he became a contemporary of notable artists like paul nash, edward wadsworth, and sir stanley spencer. gertler's patrons included lady ottoline morrell, who introduced him to walter sickert, the leader of the camden town group. his success as a painter of society portraits was short-lived due to his temperamental manner and devotion to advancing his work according to his own vision, leading to personal frustration and poverty.
legacy and burial
gertler's life was marked by struggles with poverty and unrequited love. he died on june 23, 1939, and was buried at
willesden jewish cemetery, where many other notable figures from the london area are interred.
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