Weaver Hawkins
Nigel and Laric
Born in London, Weaver Hawkins studied at the Camberwell School
of Arts and Crafts, Westminister School of Arts and the Royal
Academy. Severely wounded in the right arm in World War One,
Hawkins began painting with his left hand as a form of therapy
before going on to study art more formally at the Bristol School of
Art. From 1923 Hawkins and his wife travelled widely in
France, Spain, Italy and Malta where he adopted the name 'Raokin'
based on a local pronunciation of 'Signor Hawkins'.
This portrait of his sons was painted in France in 1933 prior to
the departure of the artist's family for Australia via Tahiti and
New Zealand. The spray of wattle might seem prophetic but as
'mimosa' it is a much loved flower in the south of France. In
this well planned and orderly composition, the artist has
emphasised the intensity of the childrens' gaze, but it is as much
the use of saturated and contrasting colours that makes this image
more than just a straight forward portrait.