Bernard Rose

Bernard William George Rose (May 9, 1916 – November 21, 1996), student at the Royal College of Music, 1933–1935, organist, soldier, and composer. Original, vintage, pen and ink, "on-the-spot" illustration by George 'Georges' Krishizki. The hand drawn illustration has been signed and inscribed in Spanish by Rose and additionally signed, dated and titled by Krishizki: "Georges / 1973 / The Choir of Magdalen College Oxford England / Dr. Bernard Rose, Director."

Bernard Rose studied the organ under Sir Walter Galpin Alcock, and was appointed as an assistant organist at the cathedral aged just 15. He continued to study the organ under Sir Walter when he became a student at the Royal College of Music. He won the organ scholarship to St Catharine's College over Edward Heath. As Rose began his position as a tutor in music, organist of The Queen's College, Oxford, and conductor of the Eglesfield Music Society, the Second World War was declared. He volunteered and was seen by an army selection board and called up in September 1940, when he underwent training. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry on 26 January 1941.[1] He saw action in the North African and Italian campaigns as a "Desert Rat" with the 4th County of London Yeomanry, and took part in the D-day landings on 6 June 1944. Captured on 13 June 1944 during the Battle of Villers-Bocage in Normandy, he was to spend the remainder of the war at Oflag 79, a German POW camp near Brunswick, Lower Saxony, until the Ninth United States Army released him and his colleagues on 12 April 1945. He left the army with the rank of captain.

George 'Georges' Krishizki (March 22, 1924 – December 20, 2001), Russian-Polish-American illustrator who came to the U.S. in 1949. While he earned acclaim for his renderings of the city’s architectural landmarks, it was his on-the-spot drawings of musicians in performance that attracted an especially appreciative audience. In a 1973 article published in conjunction with two simultaneous exhibitions, Georges explained the genesis of his long-running engagement with the concert hall: “I’ve always enjoyed going to concerts, and one day I decided it would be fun to combine my interests in music and art and make sketches of musicians during performances.”  Indeed, the most remarkable feature of Georges’ oeuvre, apart from the astounding range of performers who gladly expressed their approval and appreciation by signing, is the skill with which the drawings are accomplished.

This original pen and ink illustration, measuring approximately 9 x 12, on heavy-weight sketch paper, is in fine condition with some light overall toning. Its verso is blank and clean.