| Admin/Biog History | Nicolson spent the first half of 1936 completing his final year as an undergraduate at Oxford University. He sat his 'schools' (final exams) in June and was awarded a second class degree in July. In June and July he divided his time between Sissinghurst and London, visiting exhibitions and attending a series of dinners, dances and debutante balls. The remainder of the year was spent studying pictures in public and private collections in Europe: first in Italy (1 August - 9 September); then in the Netherlands (4 -19 October) and finally, together with Giles Robertson, in Germany (20 October - 9 December). He returned to Sissinghurst for Christmas. |
| Description | In which Nicolson completes his final year at Oxford. Writes about everyday life, but in particular preparations for his final exams ('schools'), lamenting that the focus on studying has rendered his diary entries less interesting. Also writes about his activities for the Florentine, French and English Clubs, and socialising with friends including, amongst others, Jeremy Hutchinson, Francis Graham-Harrison, Giles Robertson, Jasper Ridley, John Usborne, Bill Garrod, John Pope-Hennessy ('Botticelli'), David Parsons, Roger Mynors, Stuart Hampshire, Arne[?] de Bieville, Tom Boase, Maurice Bowra, Father D'Arcy and Isaiah Berlin ('Shiah').
Comes down from Oxford and divides his time between Sissinghurst and London, visiting exhibitions, attending the ballet and a series of social engagements including, in particular, debutante balls with his cousin, Jessica St Aubyn.
Spends August to December in preparation for his position as cultural attaché at the National Gallery, studying paintings in public and private collections in Europe. Firstly - after an aborted visit to Greece - in Southern Italy; secondly in the Netherlands where he is shown around by Herr Swart [?]; and finally, together with Giles Robertson, in Germany (mostly Berlin), where stays with the Hagen family.
Also writes about the death of his Grandmother (Lady Victoria Sackville-West) and the consequent financial arrangements for his future; his father's political career including speeches made and conversations with fellow members of parliament; the political crisis in Europe; and prospects for his own career.
This diary contains regular references not only to his immediate family (father, mother and brother) but also to his extended family - particularly the St Aubyn and Sackville-West families.
Of particular note:
January
-3rd: visit to London; visits an exhibition at Zwemmer's gallery
-4th: lunches at Knole with Eddy Sackville-West and writes about some of the pictures
-9th: father meets Anne Morrow Lindbergh at Southampton; accepts the proposal for Jean Holim[?] to give a paper on abstract art at the Florentine club
-12th: Anne and Constance Morrow Lindbergh visit Sissinghurst for lunch
-15th: visits Grandma (Lady Victoria Sackville) at White Lodge
-16th: writes up the history of the Florentine Club (see also entry for 19th); visit to London; lunches with Gwen and Giles St Aubyn; sees a play with John Pope-Hennessy who has just started work at the National Gallery and talks about his future plans
-17th: visits the National Portrait Gallery; Helmut Ruhemann, Aldous Huxley and Augustus John proposed as speakers for the Florentine club
-18th: attends the opening of the 'Picture Hive[?]' exhibition run by Anthony Squire
-22nd: visits the Ashmolean; reports that Count Biéville is re-organising the French club
-26th: sees King George V lying in state in Westminster Hall
-30-31st: writes about the death of his Grandma (Lady Victoria Sackville); his mother's reaction to the situation; reading of the will
February
-1st: lunches with Count Biéville
-5th: visits the 'Picture Hive[?]' exhibition organised by Anthony Squire; visits an exhibition of works by Camille Pissarro at the Wildenstein Gallery; Helmut Ruhemann gives a talk at the Florentine Club about picture conservation
-6th: comments on Tom Boase's character
-10th: attends his Grandmother's funeral; hangs the pictures bought at the exhibition organised by Anthony Squire
-12th: Gertrude Stein gives a speech at the Taylorian Institute for the French club
-14th: Herbert Read gives a paper at the Florentine Club on Abstract Art
-15th: visits an exhibition of Abstract Art organised by Nicolette Gray at 'the Giles'; attends a meeting of the New College essay society where Giles Robertson gives a paper entitled 'Significant Space'
-20th: Jacques Février gives a piano recital at St Michael's Hall to the Anglo-French society; dines with, amongst others, Billy Winkworth
-21st: father visits Oxford and gives a speech at the Conservative Association
-22nd: has tea with Robert Wellington from Zwemmer's Gallery
-23rd: lunches at The Vineyard with Sir Montagu and Lady Pollock, Billy Winkworth and Basil and Nicolette Gray
-25th: lunches with, amongst others, Derek Patmore and Nevill Coghill, the latter talking about sexuality
-26th: lunches with Salvador and Gala Dali
-27th: attends a lecture given by Dali on Abstract Art
-29th: lunches with John and Penelope Betjeman, and Patrick Balfour
March
-1st: delivers a paper on Benjamin Haydon to the Balliol English Club
-5th: meets Norman Brown; attends a concert given by Rachmaninoff in the Town Hall
-13th: spends an evening at 'the smoker' club
-15th: spends an evening with Giles Robertson & Isaiah Berlin discussing, amongst other things, Stephen Spender
-16th: visits an exhibition of works by Matisse at the Leicester Galleries; returns to Sissinghurst
-18th: visit to London; visits an exhibition of works by Monet at Tooth's Gallery; an exhibition of works by Gainsborough in Sir Philip Sassoon's house; attends a speech at the Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, given by his father, and others including Lord Arnold, about the current international crisis
-20th: Mina Curtiss lunches at Sissinghurst; releases 200 trout into the lake at Sissinghurst; father meets von Ribbentrop
-22nd- 23rd: Edward James visits Sissinghurst
-25th-27th: writes about his father's (Harold Nicolson) political work, speeches and meetings; records that Guy Burgess might be given a role as his father's parliamentary secretary; records that Kenneth Clark thinks there may be a role for him at Tate
-28th-29th: spends the weekend with Robert & Elinor Birley
-30th: visits Kenneth Clark at the National Gallery to talk about his future career prospects; visits an exhibition of British and French artists at the Lefevre Gallery; an exhibition of Sickert portraits at the Leicester Gallery
-31st: lunches with John Pope-Hennessy; writes about his future career prospects: 'Daddy had been fairly enthusiastic about the Tate, but Mummy and Gwen violently squashed it'
April
-3rd: visits Knole with John Pope-Hennessy
-4th: visits the Cook collection at Doughty, in Richmond with John Pope-Hennessy; discusses his future with this father (Harold Nicolson)
-10th: Nigel returns from Germany 'thoroughly prejudiced against the Nazi regime'
-11-13th: stays at Knole for the weekend with various other guests
-18-19th: visits an exhibition of abstract and surrealist art at the Mayor Gallery; sorts though the contents of his late Grandmother's (Lady Victoria Sackville-West) house, White Lodge
-21st: dines with Costa at his flat in Cambridge Street
-23rd: visits the Leicester Galleries; lunches with Granny (Mary Hamilton)
-23rd: enrols at the Courtauld Institute; returns to Oxford
-26th: records that Giles Robertson has enrolled at the Courtauld Institute and that he 'may be entering into competition with me over the Tate Gallery'
May
-13th: Georges Duhamel speaks on 'les secrets de la langue Francaise' at the Anglo-French society
-15-16h: Jeremy Hutchinson, David Parsons and Stuart Hampshire tried in the courts of summary jurisdiction behind the Town Hall for an offence with an air pistol (see also entry for 1st May); learns of the death of his friend Pat Moss; memorial service for Pat Moss
-17th: lunches with Mary Hutchinson
-20th: John Pope-Hennessy gives at talk at the Florentine Club about Sienese painting in the 15th Century
-21st: plays in a cricket match against Summerfield schoolmasters
-23rd: sees a play with Bill Garrod and writes that 'I have never quite got over a refined sexual pleasure in Bill's company. But it is repressed and consequently damaging our relationship'
-24th: lunches with, amongst others, Isaiah Berlin
-27th: visit to London: meets his father and discusses his chances of a cabinet post; lunches with Clive Bell; Lady Hinchinbrooke and Rosamond Lehmann. Attends a dance, with Jessica St Aubyn, given by Lady Aspinall in Sir Colman Chichester-Stuart's house in Mansfield Street [A digital copy of this entry can be found below]
-28th: visits an exhibition of 'Fleche d'or' at Tooth's Gallery; an exhibition of Berthe Morisot paintings at Knoedler's, and an exhibition of Picasso paintings at Zwemmer's; returns to Sissinghurst and records the 'radical changes' there
June:
-1st & 2nd: stays with Robert and Elinor Birley
-3rd: attends a dinner party in honour of Sir Alexander Cadogan and Knatchbull-Haggerson
-4th-10th: takes his final exams ('schools')
-11th-12th: socialises with various individuals including Isaiah Berlin
-13th: has tea with Peggy Lewin; organises a final dinner for the Florentine Club attended by, amongst others, Clive Bell and Osbert Lancaster
-16th: lunches with 'Gogy', formerly a member of domestic staff at the Nicolson household; visits an exhibition of surrealist art at the New Burlington Galleries attended by André Breton; Herbert Read; Julian Trevelyan
-17th: visits an exhibition of works by Daumier and Suzanne Eisendieck at the Leicester Galleries; and an exhibition titled 'Corot to Cezanne' at the Lefevre Gallery
-21st: returns to Sissinghurst; records his mother's plans to write about the life of her grandmother (Pepita de Oliva), following the discovery of papers at White Lodge
-23rd: attends the Balliol dance with Peggy Lewin
-25th: visits an exhibition of works by James Ensor at the Leicester Galleries; an exhibition of works by Salvador Dali at the Lefevre Gallery; attends a dance given by Lady Melchett and the Marchioness of Reading at 35 Lowndes Square; dances with, amongst others, Jessica St Aubyn and Pamela Gibson
-26th: visits an exhibition of works by Salvador Dali at the Lefevre Gallery with John Pope-Hennessy; records that Kenneth Clark has asked him to start as an honorary attaché at the National Gallery on 1st January 1937; visits an exhibition of works by Courbet at the Mayor Gallery
-27th-28th: Giles Robertson & Philippa St Aubyn visit Sissinghurst
-29th: attends a dance at Pamela Gibson's House in Hyde Park
-30th: visits an exhibition of works by Robin Darwin at Agnew's; attends a dance at Lady Queensbury's in Eaton Square
July
-1st: spends the day with Jessica St. Aubyn and other members of the family at Henley and then at the ballet in London
-3rd: writes up a history of the Florentine Club
-4th: reports that Eddy Sackville-West, Raymond Mortimer, Clive Bell and St John Ervine are about to embark on a 'propagandist excursion paid for by the French government'
-5th: visits Paul Latham at Herstmonceux Castle, where he is entertaining a party of twelve politicians
-6th-7th: stays with Giles Robertson at his family home in Cambridge; visits the Fitzwilliam museum; attends a debutante party organised for Jessica St. Aubyn; attends a dinner party organised by Rosemary Hinchinbrooke in a house in York Gate where he meets, amongst others, Mrs Margesson; attends a dance organised by Lady Moira Lyttleton, for her niece Nancy Bowes-Lyons in a house near Marble Arch
-10th: attends a dinner hosted by Lady Honor Guinness and Chips Channon (Sir Henry Channon) at, 5 Belgrave Square and a dance at Lady Astor's in St. James Square
-11th: visits an exhibition of French painting from a private collection at Wildenstein's Gallery
-12th: has tea at Sissinghurst with the St Aubyn family, Felix Frankfurter and Victor Cazalet
-15th: makes a will; stays at the house of Chips Channon and Lady Honor Guinness; attends a dinner hosted by Mrs Margesson at York Terrace
-19th: visits the Lindbergh family at Long Barn
-22nd & 25th: makes an index for his diary
-23rd-24th: returns to Oxford for his viva; socialises with, amongst others, Isaiah Berlin; Jeremy Hutchinson
-28th: learns that he has been awarded a second class degree
-29th: visits the Tate Galley; an exhibition of paintings in the Gulbenkian Collection at the National Gallery where Kenneth Clark 'cut me dead'; dines with the Hutchinson family at Albert Road
-30th: travels to Paris; meets with de Bieville; attends a meeting of the French Communist Party and hears a speech by Jacques Doriot; visits three night-clubs
-31st: visits the Louvre, a Cézanne exhibition at the Orangerie, several brothels and night-clubs; meets André Derain in a café
August
-1st-2nd: learns that he has a position at the National Gallery; visits a Symbolist exhibition at the Bibliotheque Nationale; travels to Rome with his brother, (Nigel Nicolson)
-4th: visits the Vatican and bumps into John Pope-Hennessy
-9th-11th: arrives in Naples; visits the Museo Nazionale
-12th: visits Pompei and Herculaneum
-13th: visits San Lorenzo and Vesuvius
-14th-17th: sightseeing in Rome
-18th-19th: sightseeing in Perugia; visits the Pinacotek
-20th: sightseeing in Assisi
-21st-27th: sightseeing in Florence; visits the Uffizi; Accademia; Pitti Palace; Santa Croce; Opera del Duomo
-28th-30th: arrives in Siena; visits the Palazzo Pubblico; Pinacotek; Opera del Duomo
-31st: visits the Pinacotek in Bologna; arrives in Venice
September
-1st-5th: sightseeing in Venice; visits the Accademia; Scoula Grande di San Rocco; Ducal Palace; Museo Civico Correr; Madonna dell'Orto; 'Mastro di Sattecuito Veneziano' exhibition at the Palazzo Rezzuico; Frari; Santa Maria della Salute; San Zaccaria; Biennale; Santi Giovanni & Paolo; Santa Maria Assumpta
-6th: arrives in Padua and visits the Cappella degli Scrovegni/Arena Chapel
-7th-8th: sightseeing in Milan; visits the Brera Pinacotek; Poldi Pezzoli; Ambrosiana
-9th: returns to England and arrives at Sissinghurst
-11th-13th: lunches with John Pope-Hennessy and his mother (Una Constance Pope-Hennessy); spends the weekend with the Margesson family in Byfield
-17th: visits the Lindbergh's at Long Barn
-22nd: Giles St. Aubyn spends the night &, Leonard and Virginia Woolf visit Sissinghurst for tea, the latter explaining that 'owing to the precarious state of international affairs thinks it no longer the occasion to write books'
-25th - 30th: spends a week in London studying pictures at the National Gallery. Also visits the Courtauld Gallery and the Wallace Collection [A digital copy of the entry for 26 September can be found below]
-27th: lunch with John-Pope Hennessy and his family
October
-1st-2nd: visits an exhibition of 19th century French painters at the Burlington Fine Arts Club
-3rd-4th: arrives in Amsterdam; visits an exhibition of English painters at the Stedelijk museum
-5-7th: visits the Rijksmuseum; views the Lang and Van Rath Collections; views an exhibition of works of art in the possession of European dealers
-8th: visits the Stedelijk museum
-9th: visits Rembrandt's house; arrives in the Hague
-10th: visits the Franz Hals Museum in Haarlem and the Art Gallery in Leiden
-11th-18th: visits the Modern Museum; the Mauritshuis; the Panoroma Mesdag; the Mesdag museum; the Bordin collection; the Municipal museum; the Meermanno-Westreenianum Museum; and the Del Monte Collection in the Hague; visits Boijmans museum in Rotterdam and looks at the permanent collection and an exhibition of works by Hieronymous Bosch; visits Delft
-19th: visits Central Museum in Utrecht
-20th-31st: meets Giles Robertson & together they travel to Berlin; stays with the Hagen family in Uhlandstrasse; visits the Kaiser Friedrich Museum, studying the pictures room by room; the Sans Souci Palace and the Bildesgalerie in Potsdam
November
1st-6th: visits the Charlottenburg Palace; the Kaiser Friedrich Museum; the Crown Prince's Palace; a private collection belonging to a Jewish family living near the Tiergarten; the Schloss Museum; National Gallery; Olympic Stadium
25th-30th: visits a labour camp just outside Berlin; arrives in Dresden; visits the Old Masters Gallery
December [1st-7th are recorded in error by LBN as being 1st-7th Nov]
-1st-5th: continues to study paintings in the Old Masters Gallery
-5th-8th: arrives in, & departs from, Munich; writes about his friendship with Giles Robertson
-9th: returns to England and arrives at Sissinghurst; retells stories, heard from his father, about Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson
-21st: visits Sybil Colefax' shop in Bruton Street
-22nd: reports on the cleaning controversy concerning Velasquez' picture of Philip IV at the National Gallery
-23rd: Stephen Lushington visits Sissinghurst
-26th: visits Stephen Lushington at his family home, 'Pidegon Hoo'; Ian Davidson visits Sissinghurst for tea
-28th: visits Charles and Anne Sackville-West at Knole
-29th: lunches with Kenneth Clark at Lympne and discusses the National Gallery
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| Image Caption | Journal entry for 27 May concerning a visit to London and a dance organised by Lady Aspinall, 1936 (4pp) |
| Journal entries for 25-26 September concerning visits to the National Gallery and Courtauld Institute, 1936 (2pp) |