Editing Imogen Stuart (section)

===Early life===
Born Imogen Werner in Berlin in 1927,{{sfn|Fallon|2001|p=160}} she was the daughter of Katharina (née Klug), a former [[art history]] student originally from [[Province of Upper Silesia|Upper Silesia]] (now part of Poland), and the influential and internationally known art critic and writer [[Bruno E. Werner]] (1896–1964),{{sfn|Fallon|2001|p=160}}{{sfn|Maertz|2019|p=132}} Germany's leading art critic and an editor for the ''[[Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung|Deutsche Allgemeine]]'' newspaper, who had championed the [[Bauhaus]] movement.{{sfn|Scally|2005}} Imogen and her only sibling, Sybil,{{sfn|Robinson|2002|p=215}} spent their childhoods in pre-war 1920s Berlin. Encouraged by their father, the two developed an interest in drawing and sculpting at a young age. Both were taught the techniques of [[Arts and Crafts movement|arts and crafts]] and sculpture by friends of their father.{{sfn|Robinson|2002|p=216}}
By early 1945, when the Russian army was [[Race to Berlin|advancing towards Berlin]], Imogen's "golden childhood came to an end" and both daughters were moved to a convent in [[Bavaria]], while their father went into hiding from the [[Nazi]]s.{{sfn|Robinson|2002|p=216}} He was in [[Dresden]], where he had grown up, during the February 1945 [[Bombing of Dresden|bombing of the city]]. He recounted the experience in his best-selling 1949 book ''Die Galeere''.{{sfn|Scally|2005}}

In Munich, she studied under the sculptor and professor [[Otto Hitzberger]], a retired professor for the [[Berlin University of the Arts]], who taught her modelling, carving and [[relief]] techniques across a variety of materials. He became her mentor and she later described him as her most important influence.{{sfn|Robinson|2002|pages=216–218}}

There, in 1948 she met her future husband, the Irishman [[Ian Stuart (sculptor)|Ian Stuart]] (1926–2013). He had also studied under Hitzberger and is often referred to as the "finest Irish sculptor" of his generation.<ref name="IS">"[https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/talented-sculptor-known-for-quality-of-religious-and-secular-work-1.1314447 Talented sculptor known for quality of religious and secular work]". ''The Irish Times'', 23 February 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2024</ref>