Biographies

Alfred James Munnings (1878 – 1959) A quintessential Royal Academician who despised modern art, he was nevertheless praised by Ezra Pound for his work in a group show of artists attached to the Canadian army during the Great War . But he was British to the core, born in Suffolk, and studying art in Norwich before going to Paris. He became a member of the Royal Academy, then President of that organiztion, and was ultimately knighted by the government. He specialized in scenes of horses and hunting, in which his skill as a draftsman was on display. He also painted portraits and figure studies, and wrote a three-volume autobiograhy which was published during the 1950’s. (NA 24.11:180)