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Sir Alfred James Munnings

4 of 6 portraits by Frank Kovacs

Photograph © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Sir Alfred James Munnings

by Frank Kovacs
plaster medallion, circa 1948
8 in. (203 mm) diameter
Given by the sitter's widow, 1959
Primary Collection
NPG 4120

Sitterback to top

  • Sir Alfred James Munnings (1878-1959), Painter and President of the Royal Academy. Sitter associated with 11 portraits, Artist or producer of 1 portrait.

Artistback to top

  • Frank Kovacs (died 1965), Sculptor, medallist and Calvinist minister. Artist or producer of 6 portraits.

This portraitback to top

When the Gallery approached Sir Alfred Munnings' widow about acquiring a portrait of her late husband, she offered to donate Kovacs' medallion. The following year a bronze cast was acquired. The portrait was considered by the sculptor as one of his most successful and by the sitter as excellent.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG 4120a: Sir Alfred James Munnings (metal cast)

Linked publicationsback to top

Events of 1948back to top

Current affairs

Prince Charles is born in Buckingham Palace; he is the first son of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh
The Secretary of State for Health, Aneurin Bevan, introduces the National Health Service. Health services in Britain were now funded from central taxation and free at the point of use for every resident of the country.

Art and science

The First Morris Minor car designed by Alec Issigonis and his team (also responsible for the Mini) takes to the road, becoming a popular and classic English design.
F.R. Leavis publishes his influential study of the English novel, The Great Tradition. The book set out Leavis's ideas on the proper relationship between literary form and moral concern.

International

The policy of Apartheid is adopted in South Africa. Apartheid was a set of laws allowing racial segregation and discrimination against the black majority by the white ruling class.
As part of the dispute between Western and Soviet controlled Berlin, the Soviet Union blockades West Berlin, cutting off supplies. Anxious to avoid a conflict, America, Britain and France responded by flying in food and other provisions.

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