Peter Erik Lasko CBE FBA (5 March 1924 – 18 May 2003)[1] was a British art historian, Professor of Visual Art at the University of East Anglia, from 1965 to 1974, Director of the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, from 1974–85[2][3] and a Fellow of the British Academy.[4]

Life

Lasko was born and grew up in Berlin, where his father Leo Lasko worked in the film industry as a director and screenwriter. The family moved to England in 1936.[1] He attended Saint Martin's School of Art but soon switched to art history, firstly studying at Birbeck College under Nikolaus Pevsner,[5] then at the Courtauld Institute of Art from 1946 to 1949. In 1950 he became assistant keeper in the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities at the British Museum, where he remained for 15 years.[1]

In 1965, he became the first professor of art history at the new University of East Anglia (UEA) establishing the School of Fine Art and Music. He brought together a teaching staff which people have said was second only to the Courtauld Institute of Art.[6] He assembled academics such as Andrew Martindale, headhunted from the Courtauld, who was his successor as Professor of Visual Art when Lasko left after eight years to become Director of the Courtauld Institute, succeeding Anthony Blunt in 1974.[1]

Described as ‘a brilliant administrator’,[5] Lasko, when he was at UEA, secured the gift of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts when he persuaded Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury that it was a perfect place to house their collection of 20th artworks and ethnographic objects. The building, housing both the gallery and the school, was designed by Norman Foster and opened in 1974. It was on the strength of these administrative skills and track record that he was given the directorship of the Courtauld.[6] The main task that Blunt left was to find a new permanent home for the institute, which, after a few twists and turns, Lasko did by starting negotiations with the Secretary of State and the Treasury to move the Courtald to Somerset House in the north wing facing the Strand. It was a move, completed in 1989, not overseen by Lasko as, after securing the majority of the funding, he retired in 1985 citing ill health.[7] While he was at the Courtauld he donated photographs to the Conway Library whose archive of primarily architectural photographs are being digitised as part of the wider Courtald Connects project.[8]

Following his retirement from the Courtauld he devoted much of his time to the "Corpus Of Romanesque Sculpture In Great Britain And Northern Ireland", a project he took over from George Zarnecki, and a book on German Expressionist art,[1] which was published after his death.[2]

Lasko became a British citizen in 1948[9] and, in 1981, was awarded the honour of Companion of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).[10] He was also made a fellow of The British Academy. A festschrift in his honour, Studies in Medieval Art and Architecture : presented to Peter Lasko, was published in 1994.[11]

Work at public institutions

Having become a fan while he was at UEA, Lasko continued to be a supporter of Norwich City Football Club.[6]

Peter Lasko died in France on 18 May 2003.[13] He was survived by his wife Lyn, who he married in 1948,[9] and three daughters.[14]

Publications

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Peter Lasko". The Guardian. 29 May 2003. Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b Sorensen, Lee (ed.). "Lasko, Peter [Erik]". Dictionary of Art Historians. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  3. ^ "A History of the Courtauld". The Courtauld Institute of Art. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  4. ^ Heslop, T.A. (28 May 2003). "Peter Erik Lasko Obituary". The Independent.
  5. ^ a b Little, Charles T. (2010). "Lasko, Peter". Grove Art Online. doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T2089285. ISBN 978-1-884446-05-4. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Guardian Staff (29 May 2003). "Obituary: Peter Lasko". the Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  7. ^ "History". The Courtauld Institute of Art. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Who made the Conway Library?". Digital Media. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  9. ^ a b admin (21 February 2018). "Lasko, Peter Erik". [obituaries:] The Guardian (London) May 29, 2003, p. 27; The Times (London), May 29, 2003, p. 40. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  10. ^ "The London Gazette". The London Gazette. Supplement No.48639.
  11. ^ . ISBN 0750906197. ((cite book)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ "Lasko, Peter (Erik) | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  13. ^ Artdaily. "Professor Peter Lasko,79, Dies". artdaily.cc. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  14. ^ "British Art Historian Lasko Dies at 79". Midland Daily News. 31 May 2003. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
Academic offices Preceded byAnthony Blunt Director of the Courtauld Institute of Art 1974 to 1985 Succeeded byMichael Kauffmann
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