Anthony Rudolf writes:
Fermin Rocker, 1907–2004
Anarchist's Artist Son
Anthony Rudolf, The Independent
Fermin Rocker, painter and graphic artist: born London 22 December 1907; married 1954 Ruth Robins (died 1989; one son); died London 18 October 2004.
Last night, at the Chambers Gallery in London, took place the private view of what was acknowledged by the painter himself to be his final exhibition.
For some time Fermin Rocker had been tired. His eyes were not as good as they were, and walking the few yards to the studio with its north light — at the back of his top-floor flat in Tufnell Park — was becoming difficult. It was even possible that the private view would be his last or penultimate excursion from the flat, for even with the help of his devoted son and amanuensis, Philip, going down all those mansion-block stairs presented formidable problems. But, after a 48-hour flu, the 96-year-old Rocker died in his bed on Monday. There had always been a good chance he would die brush in hand, but it was not to be.
