Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, R.A.

Acquired from the artist by John Acton, and thence by descent to the present owner

John Acton OBE, 1932 - 2017, was the British council’s representative to Delhi in the mid to late 60’s. It was there that he and his wife Joy hosted Howard Hodgkin who painted Mrs Acton in Delhi and a portrait of John and Joy Acton, The Terrace, Delhi.  

From the late 50s, and in the 60s, he was involved in the London art scene where he was friends with David Hockney, Eduardo Paolozzi, Bernard Cohen and others. Throughout his career with the British Council he welcomed artists to the countries he was posted to, including a visit to São Paulo by Gilbert and George in the early 80s, where he showed off his wicked cocktail-making skills to good effect. He was made Deputy Controller of the British Council's Art’s Division and Director of the Music Department in 1980.