William Strang

Inscriptionback to top

Signed and dated lower right: ‘W.S. / 1917’.

This portraitback to top

In the last two decades of his life, Strang painted seven self-portraits in this mode, of which this is the third (see ‘All known portraits’). Several show him wearing a hat; this unadorned image is most similar in aspect to that of 1919 now in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; the strong strokes and colour indicate the impact of the Post-Impressionist exhibitions in London of 1910–12. It does not appear to have been exhibited in Strang’s lifetime.

When offered to the NPG in 1962, the portrait was declined by the Trustees, but accepted in 1967 when bequeathed by the sitter’s son.

Dr Jan Marsh

Physical descriptionback to top

Head-and-shoulders, full-face, greying hair, wearing wire spectacles, brown jacket, white shirt, dark blue tie, against slate-blue background.

Conservationback to top

Conserved, 1981.

Provenanceback to top

The artist; his son David Strang, by whom bequeathed 1967.

View all known portraits for William Strang