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John Armstrong

(1893-1973), Painter and soldier

Sitter in 4 portraits
John Armstrong was a painter of imaginative subjects, a designer of film and stage sets, a mural painter and a book illustrator. He briefly studied twice at St John's Wood School of Art, before and after serving in the First World War. He was selected as a member of the influential Unit One exhibition in 1933, and his work subsequently became more surrealist in character. His theatrical décor includes designs for Macbeth and Measure for Measure (Old Vic); Magic Flute (Sadler's Wells Opera Company) and films produced by Sir Alexander Korda including Henry VIII and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Armstrong was an official war artist from 1940 until 1945.

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John Armstrong, by Harry Jonas - NPG 5696

John Armstrong

by Harry Jonas
oil on canvas, circa 1922
NPG 5696

John Armstrong, by Oriel Ross - NPG 6574

John Armstrong

by Oriel Ross
pencil, 1930s
NPG 6574

Diners at Denham Studios Restaurant, by Anthony Wysard - NPG D312

Diners at Denham Studios Restaurant

by Anthony Wysard
watercolour and pencil, published 1937
NPG D312

Web image not currently available

John Armstrong

by Elliott & Fry
bromide print, 1959
NPG x86185

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