User:Barochy

FRANK BERESFORD

Frank Bersford was born in Derby, 1881, and spent most of his youth in Belper, where his grandfather was a master nailer and his mother, Louise Beresford, ran a drapery business in Field Lane. Beresford was interested in art from a very young age and had his first lessons at the age of 11 from a Miss Harrison, of Belper, who charged one shilling and three pence (6½p) an hour. Three years later, he enrolled at Derby School of Art, where he studied until the age of 18. He moved to London, in 1900, establishing himself through the financial support of a patron. In 1901 he enrolled at the Royal Academy School and was soon noted for his fine painting ability, particularly in capturing images of flora and fauna. In high recognition of his early work he was awarded a British Institute scholarship for a world tour. He was overseas for the next 18 months, travelling 30,000 miles. On his return he held a show of his finest work. During the next 50 years Bersford painted animals,aircraft, buildings and landscapes, including Dove Dale, but it was historic events and his portraits for which he became especially famous. On January 28, 1936 Bersford painted "The Princes' Vigil", an unprescedented display of an Empire's grief. The oil painting was highly acclaimed and attracted thousands of people when it was put on display a few days later at Burlington House. So impressed was Queen Mary, the grieving widow, that she bought it to give to her eldest son on his birthday. At the time, of course, it was not known that Edward VIII’s reign would last only a few months before he abdicated. In 1952, by which time he was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy and his pictures had become expensive collector’s items, Beresford was given special permission to produce a similar painting following the death of George VI – but the Academy refused to hang it. During the First World War he enlisted in the London Regiment, becoming a Sergeant- Major instructor. In the Second World War he helped train volunteers for the Home Guard as well as teaching female Amazons Defence Corps to shoot rifles. He became an accredited war correspondent with the U.S. Army, the only artist to hold the position, and gained himself the title Pictorial Historian Of Americans Over Here. In 1949, the Queen bought a painting he had done while visiting South Africa, where he also painted one of the last portraits of General Smuts. His other royal canvasses included one of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret on horseback called The Morning Ride. He died in 1967, aged 85, leaving his widow, Beres Evelyn Pym, two daughters and three grandsons.