Sir Oswald Birley (1880-1952), Painter
Sitter in 1 portrait
Artist associated with 15 portraits
Sir Oswald Birley was born in New Zealand while his parents were on a world tour. He served in France in the World War I first with the Royal Fusiliers, later transferring to the Intelligence Corps obtaining the rank of Captain and being awarded the Military Cross in 1919. During World War II he served with the rank of Major in the British Home Guard. A favourite of the Royal Family he was well-known for his portraits of King George V, Queen Mary, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother and the present monarch Queen Elizabeth II. Birley was knighted in 1949.
by Sir Oswald Birley
oil on canvas, 1920
NPG 5346
Frederick Edwin Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead
replica by Sir Oswald Birley
oil on canvas, 1932 (circa 1922)
On display at Palace of Westminster, London
NPG 2552
by Sir Oswald Birley
oil on canvas, circa 1933
On display in Room 31 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4013
William Ewert Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose
by Sir Oswald Birley
oil on canvas, circa 1933
NPG 6436
Gordon Hewart, 1st Viscount Hewart
by Sir Oswald Birley
oil on canvas, 1935
NPG 6354
by Sir Oswald Birley
oil on canvas, 1949
NPG 3945
Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
by Bassano & Vandyk Studios, after Sir Oswald Birley
half-plate film negative, 3 July 1969 (1946)
NPG x174619
by Paul Ferdinand Anton Laib, after Sir Oswald Birley
photograph, late 1910s
NPG D38335
Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood
published by Illustrated London News, after Sir Oswald Birley
colour photogravure, published 1922? (1922)
NPG D34070
George Joachim Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen
by Paul Ferdinand Anton Laib, after Sir Oswald Birley
photograph, (1927)
NPG D34642
Margaret Evelyn Goschen (née Gathorne-Hardy), Viscountess Goschen
by Paul Ferdinand Anton Laib, after Sir Oswald Birley
photograph, (1927?)
NPG D34643
published by Illustrated London News, after Sir Oswald Birley
colour photogravure, published 6 July 1929 (1928)
NPG D34020
Cyril Louis Norton Newall, 1st Baron Newall
after Sir Oswald Birley
photographic print, (1941)
NPG D38500
published by The Times Publishing Company Limited, after Sir Oswald Birley
colour offset lithograph, published 1965 (1946)
NPG D33257
All paintings by this artist on the BBC Your Paintings website
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New Zealand
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