Gunn; Sir; James (1893-1964); Artist, RA, LLD

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Dublin Core

Title

Relation

Portrait of Professor Archibald Young, President 1935-1937

Name authority Item Type Metadata

Surname

Gunn

Forename(s)

James

Birth Date

1893

Death Date

1964

Occupation

Artist

Biographical Text

Gunn was one of the most famous portrait painters of the 20th century. He was born in Glasgow on the 30th June 1893 and died in London on the 30th December 1964. He went to Glasgow School of Art but fell out with the director, Maurice Greiffenhagen, and later went to the Edinburgh School of Art where he stayed for three years before going to the Academie Julian in Paris. He left Paris at the outbreak of the First World War and initially joined the Artists Rifles. He was elected President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1953, a post he held until his death. He was also elected as a full academician at the Royal Academy in 1961 and was knighted for services to painting in 1963. He was given an LLD by Manchester in 1945 and by Glasgow in 1963.