Gluck, 1895-1978 - Diana Souhami

Hannah Gluckstein was famous as a painter, particularly in the 1920s and 30s when her portraits of women, her flower paintings and landscapes attracted much publicity. Queen Mary, Cecil Beaton and Sir Francis Oppenheimer were among those who called at "The Gluck Room" of The Fine Art Society in London to see and acquire her paintings.;Gluck, as she was known, was famed as a rebel. She dressed as a man and had passionate love affairs with society women. She was born into the family that founded the J.Lyons & Co catering empire, but her way of life shocked and pained her family, though the money they gave her let her live in style.;At the height of her fame at the time of World War II, she faded from view. A conflation of troubles, not least disappointment in love, made her wilt as a person and painter. She lived in obscurity until when nearing 80 she came back into the limelight with a retrospective exhibition at The Fine Art Society in 1973.;Gluck chronicled her life in paint and in this work Diana Souhami interweaves the pictures, people, events and feelings that made up her life. With reference to unpublished letters, diaries and manuscripts she reveals the loves, torments, ambitions and work of this woman.