Augustus Edwin John
(1878-1961), PainterSitter in 103 portraits
Artist associated with 33 portraits
John was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, the third of four children. A brilliant student at the Slade School of Art (1894-98). He had also studied together with his sister Gwen John in Paris. He was associated with the New English Art Club and the Camden Town Group but remained largely independent from artistic trends and movements. By the 1920s he was the leading portraitist of his day whose sitters included distinguished contemporaries such as George Bernard Shaw and T.E. Lawrence. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1928. Alongside these achievements his lifestyle epitomised that of the bohemian artist, a reputation bolstered by his fascination with Romany culture.
Watch a film clip on the artist from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
by Augustus John
oil on canvas, circa 1937-1938
On display in Room 31 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 7049
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Dorothy Rose Burns (née Duveen)
by Augustus John
oil on canvas, 1940s?
NPG 5942
John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
by Augustus John
chalk, 1944
NPG 5025
Sir (Ralph) Norman Angell (né Ralph Norman Angell Lane)
by Augustus John
chalk, 1955
NPG 5595
Sir (Ralph) Norman Angell (né Ralph Norman Angell Lane)
by Augustus John
chalk, 1955
NPG 6084
by Augustus John
chalk, 1957
NPG 4170
by B. dS, possibly after Augustus John
etching, early 20th century
NPG D42608
after Augustus John
gravure, 1930 or before
NPG D36175
Related People
- Amaryllis Fleming (daughter)
- Sir Caspar John (son)
- Fenella John (granddaughter)
- Gwendolen Mary ('Gwen') John (sister)
- Henry John (son)
- Pyramus John (son)
- Robin John (son)
- Dorothy ('Dorelia') McNeill (wife)
- Poppet Pol (née John) (daughter)
- Talitha Dina Pol (granddaughter)
- Julius White (grandson)
- Vivien White (née John) (daughter)
- Yuri White (grandson)
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