Even after a long illness from which there
was no real way back, it is still a profound shock when a friend dies.
Stewart I have known for decades and I am
delighted to say that I have no bad memories of him. I remember his perception, his wit, his knowledge
and his waspish sense of humour. I have
relished knowing him and his loss is one that I feel deeply.
The last time that I was in the UK I stayed
with Stewart and his partner Andrew and had an excellent time culminating in
our visiting an exhibition in Dulwich Gallery where we were able to share our
contempt for the childish daubs of Cy Twomby and reveal a hitherto supressed
delight in the pictures of Poussin.
Though it might just have been that the comparisons were odious!
It is difficult to select just a few
instances from thirty years to sum up a personality - but he was one of the few
people in the world who was able to correct my quotations without fear of
immediate bodily harm. He was the one
who demanded that I read Kramer and Benson – both good reads in their way! He was always welcoming and good company.
I shall miss him. My thoughts go out to Andrew.
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