NORMAN,
London
1975.
Oil
on
canvas
When
I came
to
live
in
London
in
the
mid-1960's
a favourite
meeting
place
in
my
neighbourhood
was
a pub
called
the
Prince
Consort.
Norman
sometimes
served
behind
the
bar.
He
was
a brilliant
chemist,
teacher,
wit
and
friend,
gregarious
and
extravagant.
He
loved
opera,
baroque
art
and
drinking.
He
was
addicted
to
alcohol
and
after
many
years
of
gradual
decline
it
finally
destroyed
him.
I think
the
portrait
captures
his
originality
and
contradictions.
© copyright Natalie d'Arbeloff 2002
