British Day, Part 2 - Art by Sir Alfred Munnings

Sir Alfred Munnings (1878-1959) was one of the pre-eminent British artists of his age.  Best known for his excellent depiction of horses, he became wealthy when he gained commissions from the Canadian War Memorial after World War I.  He was president of the Royal Academy of Arts from 1944 to his death.  We start with this portrait of Sir Alfred by his friend Harold Knight.

 

This is the first of three Munnings paintings featured today that are set in studios.

Munnings was best known for his World War I commemorative works 

and paintings of horses, so his nudes are likely all academic work.

 

This signed drawing is one of many Munnings works with middle aged or older men.

 

This came to me described only as "first study."  Note the

block of wood supporting the model's left foot.

 

Munnings took something as mundane as a man reading a newspaper (in the nude)

as the subject for this drawing.  His initials are at lower right.

 

This painting of a somewhat chubby middle aged man set in an studio class

 is my favorite of the day.  If you compare the artist at left to the first picture

 in today's series, you may see a resemblance to Munnings.

 

This Munnings drawing recently appeared with two others from todays series 

in an exhibit in Nottingham, England as a three panel installation.