Raymond McIntyre

Raymond McIntyre’s career as a painter in New Zealand and England at the turn of the 19th century made him perfectly suited to become a renowned art critic on the side. He was formally trained as a painter in his home country of New Zealand where he learned traditional, Victorian styles of painting. When he moved to England in 1909, he was exposed to Europe’s Modernist art movement, and his style developed. He was particularly enthralled with Paul Cezanne, who he also published articles on for London’s Architectural Review. McIntyre began gaining popularity as a portrait painter in London and a frequent traveler to European cities. Mostly a portrait painter, McIntyre’s distinct paintings portrayed sitters with little detail; broad, bright colors; and minimally expressive faces. McIntyre sought to make his sitters’ inner beauty visible and was less focused on an exact likeness. Unfortunately, a large number of his works have been missing since his death in 1933, but he is fondly remembered as a unique voice in art criticism and for having a unique hand in visual art.