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General First nameArthur Bellamy
LastnameClifton
GenderMale
CountryEngland
Date of birth1863-06-16
Place of birthManchester, Lancashire, England
Date of death1932-10-04
Place of deathWalmer, Kent, England


About

After attending Cambridge University, Arthur Clifton initially practised as a solicitor before becoming an art director, art dealer and art critic.
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From Alumni Cantabrigienses:

Clifton, Arthur Bellamy. Admitted pensioner, at Saint John’s, June 22, 1882. Son of Robert Bellamy (1855), Professor at Owens College, Manchester. School, Clifton College Matriculated Michaelmas 1882; B.A. 1885. Practised as a solicitor in London but abandoned the law in the interests of Art Director at Carfax and Co., Fine Art Dealers, Ryder Street, London, afterwards removed to Bury Street.

Gathered around him a group of young, struggling artists; these included Charles Conder, Augustus John, Max Beerbohm, Walter Sickert, William Rothenstein, Ambrose McEvoy, with Auguste Rodin and others from abroad. Together with his partner, Robbie Ross, he caused their shop to become a centre for all who were interested in the new developments of art and letters. A witty talker with great social gifts; a competent art dealer and a ruthless critic. Of Merstham Manor, Ashford, Kent.
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Through his friendship with Robert Ross, Arthur B. Clifton met Oscar Wilde, who also became a friend. The following is a letter Wilde wrote to Clifton, inviting him to attend the first performance of his play Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892). It was first performed on Saturday, 20 February 1892, at Saint James’s Theatre in London:

Hotel Albemarle
London

[Postmark: 17 February 1892]

Dear Arthur,

I hope you will come to my first night in my wife’s box. You could be of great service to her as she will be very nervous probably, and it would be nice for her to have an old friend with her. Her aunt Mrs William Napier [née Louisa Mary Lloyd] accompanies her.

I have been very ill, and the drains in Tite Street have gone wrong, so we have all separated – Constance and Vyvyan, who is ill, to Lady Mount-Temple’s, Cyril to Mrs Napier’s, myself to a quiet room here.

Ever yours,

Oscar

PS Box D, but wait in vestibule for them like a good boy.
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In May 1895, Oscar Wilde was convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years’ hard labour. Arthur Clifton remained a friend and became a trustee of Wilde’s estate. He was able to visit Wilde and in October 1895 wrote the following account of his meeting with Wilde to Carlos Blacker, a mutual friend:

I was very much shocked at Oscar’s appearance, though scarcely surprised. Fortunately he had his ordinary clothes on: his hair was rather long and he looked dreadfully thin. You can imagine how painful it was to meet him: and he was very much upset and cried a good deal: he seemed quite broken-hearted and kept on describing his punishment as savage.

Of course, I talked as much as possible about the future, about the friendship of his friends, about his plays and everything I could think of to cheer him up. He was very eager for news and I told him as much as possible of what had happened lately and really I suppose I did most of the talking.

As to business matters, he did not express any decided opinion, but thought he ought to be left something out of the settlement if possible, and I told him what I though would be a good plan – namely that he should retain a third of his life interest; and I told him I would do my best to see that that was arranged. As I told you, Mrs Wilde, whom I saw immediately after, quite agreed, so there ought to be little difficulty.

He has been reading Pater and Newman lately, one book a week. I do not know what work he does. He was terribly despondent and said several times that he did not think he would be able to last the punishment out. I was very fortunate in being allowed to see him, as his trustee, about his bankruptcy. He was in the care of two warders who were in the room all the time, but I was able to sit quite close to him and talk quietly; a very different arrangement to any visits allowed at the prison.

The prison commissioners refused my application to see him about six weeks ago and gave me leave to write to him: however, they returned my letter at once as not being about business. I wish I could give you a better account of what he said but really the conversation was very desultory and he wanted news much more than he wanted to talk.

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Archive statistics Career1882 - 1885
Tournament wins0
Matches2
Match wins0


Tournaments Cambridge University LTC - 1885 Brackley - 1882