John Tunnard

1 portrait by John Tunnard

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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John Tunnard

by John Tunnard
oil on board, 1959
23 7/8 in. x 30 1/8 in. (607 mm x 765 mm)
Purchased, 1992
Primary Collection
NPG 6188

Sitterback to top

  • John Tunnard (1900-1971), Painter. Sitter in 1 portrait, Artist or producer of 1 portrait.

Artistback to top

  • John Tunnard (1900-1971), Painter. Artist or producer of 1 portrait, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

Tunnard was a keen amateur entomologist; he has, in this self-portrait, depicted himself with one of the insects in which he was interested, a sawfly (genus Cimbex).

Linked publicationsback to top

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  • Rideal, Liz, Insights: Self-portraits, 2005, p. 79 Read entry

    Tunnard felt that it was important to paint ‘from the stomach as well as the head’. In 1939 he sold a painting to Peggy Guggenheim, who likened his appearance to Groucho Marx. Like Reynolds, Tunnard draws attention to the artist’s most important asset – the eyes – by retaining his glasses.

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 625

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Events of 1959back to top

Current affairs

Harold Macmillan wins the general election with an increased majority, returning to office as Conservative prime minister. The victory was the result of perceived economic improvement under the Conservative government, and his (misquoted) boast: 'you've never had it so good.' During his premiership he earned the nickname 'Supermac', coined by cartoonist, Victor 'Vicky' Weisz.

Art and science

Claudia Jones organises the first West Indian-style carnival in the country, starting the tradition of the annual Notting Hill carnival. The event was a response to the race riots of 1958, and an attempt to celebrate West Indian culture and help overcome racial prejudice by giving the whole community the opportunity to join in the event.

International

Fidel Castro becomes leader of Cuba. After defeating the American-backed Batista government, Castro's revolutionary army arrived in Havana on 8th January where Castro proclaimed himself Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Within a month, Prime Minister José Miró Cardona had resigned, and Castro took over.
In Tibet, an uprising against Chinese rule is brutally crushed, and the Dalai Lama flees to India, beginning his long exile.

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