Sir Roland Algernon Penrose
(1900-1984), Painter, art collector; WW2 camoufleur and writer on artSitter in 15 portraits
Artist of 1 portrait
Artist, writer, poet and collector; founder (in 1947) of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA). A friend and biographer of Picasso, Man Ray, Max Ernst and Joan Miró, it was Penrose's interest in Surrealism and Catalan art that brought him to Spain at the outset of the Civil War. An ardent supporter of the Republican cause, he became involved in efforts to raise money for anti-fascist forces and campaigned for British backing.
Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
by Roland Penrose
mixed-media on paper, circa 1948
NPG 6388
by Lord Snowdon
bromide print, 28 June 1963
NPG P797(37)
Picnic (Nusch Eluard, Paul Eluard, Roland Penrose, Man Ray, Adrienne 'Ady' Fidelin)
by Lee Miller
silver print, 1937
On display at The Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NPG x137400
By Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1940s
NPG x137330
By Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1940s
NPG x137331
By Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1940s
NPG x137332
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, mid 1960s
NPG x14178
by Walter Bird
bromide print on card mount, 5 May 1966
NPG x165796
by Adrian Flowers
bromide print on card mount, October 1970
NPG x4168
by Nicholas Elder
bromide print on card mount, June 1975
NPG x4044
by David Reed
R-type colour print, 1980
NPG x76358
by Tara Heinemann
resin print, 1984
NPG x22180
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