Augustus John
1878 - 1961
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Once considered the most promising British artist of the early 20th century, Augustus John led a bohemian existence that often captured more attention than his artwork. Born in Wales, John entered the Slade School in London at 17 and by the time he graduated three years later was touted as the most talented draftsman of his generation.
During the First World War, John became a war artist with the Canadian forces and made memorable portraits of infantrymen, including The Canadians. These works were to comprise a huge mural for his patron, Lord Beaverbrook, the former Canadian who had become a British newspaper magnate. However, like many of John's ambitious undertakings, the mural was never completed.
After the war, John became Britain's leading portrait painter. Among his subjects were Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), Lloyd George, G. B. Shaw, T. E. Lawrence, Sean O'Casey and Dylan Thomas.
John is said to have been the model for the iconoclastic artist depicted in Joyce Cary's novel The Horse's Mouth, which was made into a film of the same name.
His fame – and notoriety – were such that he made the cover of Time magazine in 1928.
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