Portrait of Harold Pinter playing cricket to be sold at auction
The body weight is transferred, the head perfectly still, as the batsman attempts a textbook cover drive. A portrait displaying Harold Pinter's love of cricket, which hung above his desk, is to be auctioned before a celebratory game at Lord's.
For Pinter, the battle between bat and ball was “God's greatest creation”, which he observed during glorious summer days from his box at Lord's. He introduced cricket scenes into his most famous works and turned uncommonly shy when introduced to a Test match hero.
No mean batsman himself, Pinter captained the Gaieties Cricket Club, a wandering side comprised of actors and writers, which plays in the Home Counties.
Now, friends of Pinter, who died on Christmas Eve, aged 78, after a long battle with cancer, are planning a game in September between the Gaieties and the Lord's Taverners.
The Gaieties presented Pinter with the portrait, by Joe Hill, which captures the batsman in a pose reminiscent of Sir Leonard Hutton, the great England batsman. Hutton was Pinter's hero, but the playwright was too shy to meet him.
Harry Burton, the actor and Pinter's cricketing colleague, said: “Harold used to write underneath the portrait, which took pride of place above his desk. The picture is based on a photograph of Harold in the nets from 1970. He was actually being coached by Alf Gover, a former England cricketer, but Alf didn't make the portrait unfortunately, which makes Harold's shot look even more impressive.
He added: “Lady Antonia [Fraser, Pinter's widow] has agreed to donate the painting for a game to recognise Harold's love of cricket. We hope it can raise funds for disadvantaged kids in Hackney.”
The Pinter family has already received an anonymous bid of £4,000 for the portrait, but hopes that it will fetch a higher price...
Read entire article at Times (UK)
For Pinter, the battle between bat and ball was “God's greatest creation”, which he observed during glorious summer days from his box at Lord's. He introduced cricket scenes into his most famous works and turned uncommonly shy when introduced to a Test match hero.
No mean batsman himself, Pinter captained the Gaieties Cricket Club, a wandering side comprised of actors and writers, which plays in the Home Counties.
Now, friends of Pinter, who died on Christmas Eve, aged 78, after a long battle with cancer, are planning a game in September between the Gaieties and the Lord's Taverners.
The Gaieties presented Pinter with the portrait, by Joe Hill, which captures the batsman in a pose reminiscent of Sir Leonard Hutton, the great England batsman. Hutton was Pinter's hero, but the playwright was too shy to meet him.
Harry Burton, the actor and Pinter's cricketing colleague, said: “Harold used to write underneath the portrait, which took pride of place above his desk. The picture is based on a photograph of Harold in the nets from 1970. He was actually being coached by Alf Gover, a former England cricketer, but Alf didn't make the portrait unfortunately, which makes Harold's shot look even more impressive.
He added: “Lady Antonia [Fraser, Pinter's widow] has agreed to donate the painting for a game to recognise Harold's love of cricket. We hope it can raise funds for disadvantaged kids in Hackney.”
The Pinter family has already received an anonymous bid of £4,000 for the portrait, but hopes that it will fetch a higher price...