Norman Hepple, Portrait of the publisher Charles Black (1973)
Norman Hepple, Portrait of the publisher Charles Black* (1973), Oil on canvas (70 × 90cm), framed (93 x 113cm). Signed.
*Charles Black (1937–2013) was a distinguished British publisher and the last member of his family to lead the renowned Edinburgh publishing house A & C Black. Founded in 1807 by his great-great-grandfather, Adam Black, the firm became famous for its authoritative reference works, including Who's Who, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and the Waverley Novels of Sir Walter Scott.
Black was educated at Winchester College and Christ Church College, Oxford. He demonstrated a passion for sports, excelling in cricket and representing the English Public Schools team. After completing his national service with the Scots Guards, he captained the Real Tennis team at Oxford. He joined A & C Black in 1960, immersing himself in the company's operations. In 1964 Black married Melanie Lowson, daughter of barrister and financier Sir Denys Lowson, who served as Lord Mayor of London between 1950-51. In 1968, he took a sabbatical to attend Harvard Business School, returning with a strategic vision that would reshape the firm. Upon succeeding his father as chairman in 1973, when our picture was commissioned, he expanded the company's portfolio to include children's books, music, natural history, and nautical titles. Under his leadership, A & C Black also acquired Adlard Coles Nautical and Helm's ornithology list, enhancing its specialised offerings. He was instrumental in relocating the company's offices to Gray's Inn and establishing a modern distribution centre near Cambridge.
In 2000, Black sold A & C Black to Bloomsbury Publishing for £16.4 million, recognizing the industry's shift towards digital media. He continued to serve as a non-executive director at Bloomsbury, contributing his expertise to the broader publishing landscape. Beyond publishing, he was an avid sportsman, serving as captain of the Royal St. George's Golf Club and being a member of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Norman Hepple, Portrait of the publisher Charles Black* (1973), Oil on canvas (70 × 90cm), framed (93 x 113cm). Signed.
*Charles Black (1937–2013) was a distinguished British publisher and the last member of his family to lead the renowned Edinburgh publishing house A & C Black. Founded in 1807 by his great-great-grandfather, Adam Black, the firm became famous for its authoritative reference works, including Who's Who, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and the Waverley Novels of Sir Walter Scott.
Black was educated at Winchester College and Christ Church College, Oxford. He demonstrated a passion for sports, excelling in cricket and representing the English Public Schools team. After completing his national service with the Scots Guards, he captained the Real Tennis team at Oxford. He joined A & C Black in 1960, immersing himself in the company's operations. In 1964 Black married Melanie Lowson, daughter of barrister and financier Sir Denys Lowson, who served as Lord Mayor of London between 1950-51. In 1968, he took a sabbatical to attend Harvard Business School, returning with a strategic vision that would reshape the firm. Upon succeeding his father as chairman in 1973, when our picture was commissioned, he expanded the company's portfolio to include children's books, music, natural history, and nautical titles. Under his leadership, A & C Black also acquired Adlard Coles Nautical and Helm's ornithology list, enhancing its specialised offerings. He was instrumental in relocating the company's offices to Gray's Inn and establishing a modern distribution centre near Cambridge.
In 2000, Black sold A & C Black to Bloomsbury Publishing for £16.4 million, recognizing the industry's shift towards digital media. He continued to serve as a non-executive director at Bloomsbury, contributing his expertise to the broader publishing landscape. Beyond publishing, he was an avid sportsman, serving as captain of the Royal St. George's Golf Club and being a member of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Norman Hepple, Portrait of the publisher Charles Black* (1973), Oil on canvas (70 × 90cm), framed (93 x 113cm). Signed.
*Charles Black (1937–2013) was a distinguished British publisher and the last member of his family to lead the renowned Edinburgh publishing house A & C Black. Founded in 1807 by his great-great-grandfather, Adam Black, the firm became famous for its authoritative reference works, including Who's Who, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and the Waverley Novels of Sir Walter Scott.
Black was educated at Winchester College and Christ Church College, Oxford. He demonstrated a passion for sports, excelling in cricket and representing the English Public Schools team. After completing his national service with the Scots Guards, he captained the Real Tennis team at Oxford. He joined A & C Black in 1960, immersing himself in the company's operations. In 1964 Black married Melanie Lowson, daughter of barrister and financier Sir Denys Lowson, who served as Lord Mayor of London between 1950-51. In 1968, he took a sabbatical to attend Harvard Business School, returning with a strategic vision that would reshape the firm. Upon succeeding his father as chairman in 1973, when our picture was commissioned, he expanded the company's portfolio to include children's books, music, natural history, and nautical titles. Under his leadership, A & C Black also acquired Adlard Coles Nautical and Helm's ornithology list, enhancing its specialised offerings. He was instrumental in relocating the company's offices to Gray's Inn and establishing a modern distribution centre near Cambridge.
In 2000, Black sold A & C Black to Bloomsbury Publishing for £16.4 million, recognizing the industry's shift towards digital media. He continued to serve as a non-executive director at Bloomsbury, contributing his expertise to the broader publishing landscape. Beyond publishing, he was an avid sportsman, serving as captain of the Royal St. George's Golf Club and being a member of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
