Oppdatert November 2026 · rangert etter vår popularitetsscore (søk, besøk og bestillinger for hvert verk) · 156 verk av Oswald Birley i vår katalog
Kort fortalt
Av alle originalverkene Oswald Birley etterlot seg, er det mest kjente Sir Robert Witt (1931), som er en del av samlingen til Courtauld Gallery i London. Like bak følger Sir John Edwin Mitchell (1863–1931), OBE (1930) og Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937) (1932). Vår katalog inneholder 156 verk av Oswald Birley; galleriet har bevart de 100 verkene som verden beundrer mest, hver vist med sin dato, sitt museum og sin historie.
This oil on canvas, titled Sir Robert Witt, was executed by the artist Oswald Birley in 1931. The portrait depicts a man seated in a formal manner, presented with a quiet dignity. The subject of the work was a successful lawyer and art historian who maintained a significant presence in the study of visual history.
In the quiet, commanding presence of Sir John Edwin Mitchell, one encounters the very essence of judicial authority and Edwardian gravitas. Painted in 1930, this portrait offers a profound window into a bygone era of legal prestige. The composition is masterfully centered, utilizing a classic three-quarter pose that invites the viewer into an intimate yet respectful encounter with the subject. As the eye meets the elderly man’s gaze, there is…
The oil on canvas depicts Ernest Rutherford, a man with graying hair and a mustache, presented in a formal academic setting. He is dressed in a black robe over a white shirt and a black tie. The subject is positioned centrally against a dark, muted background. A hint of a window appears on the right side of the frame, providing a subtle source of light that defines the contours of…
The subject is seated at a desk, his hands folded in a gesture of stillness. He wears the crimson robes of a Doctor of Civil Law, which contrast with the darker tones of his formal suit and tie. A pair of spectacles rests upon his face, and a well-groomed mustache sits above his mouth. The skin of his face shows the lines of age. In the background, the room contains…
The painting depicts a man in naval uniform seated at a desk. He is positioned in a way that suggests he is engaged in administrative or strategic work, with various papers spread before him. The subject wears a tie and a formal jacket, consistent with the attire of a high-ranking naval officer. His gaze is directed toward the documents, capturing a moment of quiet concentration. The lighting defines the contours…
In this 1905 portrait, we find ourselves in the presence of John Lancaster. He is seated in an ornate chair, his upper body filling the frame with a quiet, commanding presence. The composition is centered, drawing the eye immediately to the man himself, while the background remains dark and indistinct. This lack of environmental detail ensures that nothing distracts from the subject's steady, composed demeanor. He sits at a slight…
The room feels heavy with the silence of a courtroom, held within the stillness of this 1914 oil painting. Sir Ellis Jones Griffiths sits anchored in his chair, a figure of profound authority draped in the stark black of his judicial robe. A white wig, detailed with delicate frills, rests upon his head, framing a face that carries the deep lines of experience and the gravity of his station. The…
In this somber oil portrait, we encounter Mrs. Henry E. Huntington (Arabella Duvall Yarrow Huntington Huntington). The subject sits with a quiet, heavy dignity, her presence defined by the weight of her mourning attire. A dark veil rests upon her, partially obscuring her features, while dark beaded necklaces hang against her clothing. Every detail of her dress speaks to a period of profound loss and formal remembrance.
This formal portrait painting by Oswald Birley depicts Joseph E. Widener. Created about 1928, the work presents the subject in a three-quarter view. Widener was an American Thoroughbred horse race owner and breeder who managed the family estate and was a member of the wealthy Widener family. He was also a prominent figure in the Jockey Club and a significant art collector who donated over 2,000 works of art to…
In this masterful oil portrait from 1932, Sir Oswald Birley captures more than just a likeness; he preserves the very essence of intellectual triumph. The subject, Ernest Rutherford, Lord Rutherford of Nelson, stands as a monumental figure of the twentieth century, rendered with a dignity that transcends the mere physical form. As the Cavendish Professor, Rutherford was a titan of physics, and Birley utilizes a traditional studio portrait style to…
Hastings Rashdall (1858–1924)1923 · New College
12
Andrew W. Mellon1933
13
Geoffrey Luttrell (1887–1957)1929 · Dunster Castle
14
Portrait of a Rhodes Trustee1929 · The Rhodes Trust
15
John Viscount Sankey1929 · Jesus College
16
Sir Thomas Kelly, Lord Provost of Glasgow (1929–1932)1932
17
John Sampson Furley (1855–1949), Mayor of Winchester1938
18
Diana Langton, Lady Montgomery-Massingberd (1872 -1963)1943
19
Field-Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd GCB, GCVO, KCMG (1871-1947)1943
20
Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse (1892–1970), KCB, DSO, AFC1940
21
Marye Frances Pole Carew (b. 1903)1947 · Antony House
22
Cynthia Mary Burns, Lady Carew Pole (d.1977)1945 · Antony House
23
Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Somerville (1882–1949), GCB1947
24
Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Cunningham (1883–1963)1947
25
Sir Charles Wright (1876–1950)1944
26
Viscount Bledisloe of Lydney (1867–1958), Governor General of New Zealand, Former Student and Chairman of Governors (1919–1922)1946
27
Right Honourable Edward William Spencer (1895–1950), 10th Duke of Devonshire1950 · The Library And Museum of Freemasonry
28
Sydney George Holland (1855–1931), 2nd Viscount Knutsford, Chairman of The London Hospital (1896–1914)1914 · Royal London Hospital
29
Colonel Charles Harold Tetley, DSO, TD, MA, LLD, DL, Pro Chancellor of the University of Leeds (1926–1946)1943 · The Stanley - Audrey Burton Gallery
30
William Francis Victor Bonney (1872–1953)1926
31
Henry Richard Lloyd Howard of Wigfair (1853–1922), CB1900
32
Admiral Sir Arthur J. Power (1889–1960)
33
Colonel Richard Prescott Decie (d.1927), on Retirement from the County Council1910
34
General the Lord Rawlinson (1864–1925), Commandant, Staff College (1905–1906) (copy of an earlier painting)1906
35
Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson (1864–1922), Bt, GCB, DSOBelfast City Hall
36
Annie Allen Cunard (1863–1944), Lady WenlockNational Trust
37
Charles Lupton (1855–1935), Chairman of the Leeds General Infirmary (1900–1921), Lord Mayor of Leeds (1915–1916), Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding, Yorkshire (1918)Leeds Art Gallery
38
The Spanish Plume1912
39
Rufus Isaacs (1860–1935)1914 · Reading Museum - Town Hall
40
Sir William Ffoulkes (1847–1912), Bt1912
41
HM King George V (1865–1936)1935 · The Fusilier Museum London
42
J. Bowan Jones1922 · Ludlow Museum Resource Centre
43
Glyn Warren Philpot1920 · National Portrait Gallery
44
Sir Gerald Kelly1920 · National Portrait Gallery
45
The Right Honourable Cecil John Rhodes (1853–1902)1922 · County Hall
46
George V (1865–1936)1928
47
Major General Ivor Herbert (1851–1933), 1st Baron Treowen1928
48
Llewellyn Lloyd Mostyn (1856–1952), 3rd Baron Mostyn1928
49
James Herbert Benyon (1849–1935)1928 · The University of Reading
50
Alfred Thomas (1840–1927), 1st Lord Pontypridd1927
51
Henry Campbell Bruce (1851–1929), 2nd Baron Aberdare1928
52
Bernard Moore (1850–1935)1924
53
George Blackall Simonds (1843–1929)1927 · Reading Museum - Town Hall
54
General Lord Rawlinson of Trent (1864–1925), GCB, GCSI, GCVO, KCMG1925
55
The Right Honourable Ailwyn Edward Fellowes (1855–1924), First Baron Ailwyn of Honingham1924
56
Cara Leyland Rogers (1867–1939), Lady Fairhaven1925 · National Trust
57
Huttleston Rogers Broughton (1896–1966), 1st Lord Fairhaven, in the Ceremonial Uniform of the 1st Life Guards1925 · National Trust
58
Sir John Moore (1761–1809), KB1927
59
Lieutenant Colonel George Augustus Anson (b.1857), CBE1930 · Staffordshire County Buildings
60
Lieutenant Colonel, Henry Gilbert Ralph Nevill, 3rd Marquess of Abergavenny (1854 – 1938)1930
61
Sir James Colquhoun Irvine (1877–1952)1933
62
Lloyd Kenyon (1864–1927), 4th Baron Kenyon1931
63
Lord Wakefield1932
64
Henry Nevill (1854–1938), 3rd Marquess of Abergavenney1930
65
Lieutenant General Sir Hastings Anderson (1872–1930), Commandant, Staff College (1919–1922)1931
66
Sir Arthur Churchman (1867–1949), Lord Woodbridge1929
67
Ivor Windsor Clive (1889–1943), 2nd Earl of Plymouth1933
68
Urban Hanlon Broughton (1857–1929)1931 · National Trust
69
Samuel Howard Whitbread (1858–1944), MP, CB, LL1930 · Bedford Magistrates' Court
70
Haywood Lonsdale (d.1976)1931 · Ludlow Museum Resource Centre
71
John Simon, Viscount Simon (1873–1954), Lord Chancellor1933
72
Sir William Reardon Smith (1856–1935)1930 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
73
Sir Joseph Priestly, KC, Chairman of the County Council (1930–1939)1929 · County Hall
74
Lady Ellen Reardon Smith (1857–1939)1930 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
75
Louis Carnac Rivett, Esq. (1888–1947), MA, MC, FRCS, MCOG1933 · Royal College of Obstetricians And Gynaecologists
76
William Ewert Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose1933
77
Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Snow (1858–1940), KCB, KCMG1931
78
Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Charles Donaldson Hudson (1874–1941)1929 · Ludlow Museum Resource Centre
79
King George V1933
80
Frederick Edwin Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead (replica of an original of c.1922 by the artist)1932
81
John Reith (1889–1971), 1st Baron Reith of Stonehaven, Director General of the British Broadcasting Corporation1933
82
Colonel Charles Elton Longmore (d.1930), County Treasurer (1878–1894), Clerk of the Peace and Chairman of the County Council (1894–1930), Honorary Colonel 1st Hertfordshire Regiment (1921–1930)1931 · County Hall
83
John Sampson Furley (1855 - 1949)1938
84
Captain Dale1936
85
The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain (1836–1914), PC, MP1937
86
William Henry Abbey1935
87
Alfred Charles Leney, JP1934
88
Sir William Crundall (b.1847)1936
89
Sir Cyril Norwood1934 · St John's College
90
Courtauld Greenwood (1865–1954), Later Baron Courtauld Thomson KBE, CB1937
91
Alderman H. Astley Bell1936 · Harris Museum - Art Gallery
92
Portrait of a Man in Academic Dress1937 · Ludlow Library - Museum Resource Centre
93
Sir James Crichton Browne (1840–1938)1934 · Crichton Royal Hospital
94
Sir Thomas Barlow (1845–1945), 1st Bt1935
95
Miss Winifred Mercier (1874–1934), MA, CBE, Principal of Whitelands College (1918–1934)1938 · Whitelands College
96
Lord Hirst of Witton1934
97
Christopher Maude Chavasse (1884–1962), Founding First Master of St Peter's Hall (1928–1939)1938 · St Peter's College
98
Gordon Hewart, 1st Viscount Hewart1935
99
Diana Langton (1872–1963), Lady Montgomery Massingberd1943
100
George VI (1895–1952)1939 · Royal Veterinary College
#7 Sir Ellis Jones Griffiths (1860–1926), KC
#11 Hastings Rashdall (1858–1924)
#28 Sydney George Holland (1855–1931), 2nd Viscount Knutsford, Chairman of The London Hospital (1896–1914)
#36 Annie Allen Cunard (1863–1944), Lady Wenlock
#37 Charles Lupton (1855–1935), Chairman of the Leeds General Infirmary (1900–1921), Lord Mayor of Leeds (1915–1916), Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding, Yorkshire (1918)
De fire motivene som går igjen hyppigst i disse originalverkene, hver med sitt fremste eksempel.
#11 Hastings Rashdall (1858–1924)
#16 Sir Thomas Kelly, Lord Provost of Glasgow (1929–1932)
#26 Viscount Bledisloe of Lydney (1867–1958), Governor General of New Zealand, Former Student and Chairman of Governors (1919–1922)
#28 Sydney George Holland (1855–1931), 2nd Viscount Knutsford, Chairman of The London Hospital (1896–1914)
De 8 museene som innehar flest av maleriene på denne siden.
| Museum | By | Verker av Oswald Birley | Malerier fra denne listen |
|---|---|---|---|
 Ludlow Museum Resource Centre |
Ludlow | 5 | J. Bowan Jones, Haywood Lonsdale (d.1976), Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Charles Donaldson Hudson (1874–1941) |
 County Hall |
Hertford | 3 | The Right Honourable Cecil John Rhodes (1853–1902), Sir Joseph Priestly, KC, Chairman of the County Council (1930–1939), Colonel Charles Elton Longmore (d.1930), County Treasurer (1878–1894), Clerk of the Peace and Chairman of the County Council (1894–1930), Honorary Colonel 1st Hertfordshire Regiment (1921–1930) |
 National Trust |
Cambridge | 3 | Cara Leyland Rogers (1867–1939), Lady Fairhaven, Huttleston Rogers Broughton (1896–1966), 1st Lord Fairhaven, in the Ceremonial Uniform of the 1st Life Guards, Urban Hanlon Broughton (1857–1929) |
 Antony House |
4 | Marye Frances Pole Carew (b. 1903), Cynthia Mary Burns, Lady Carew Pole (d.1977) | |
 Staffordshire County Buildings |
Stoke-on-Trent | 3 | Sir John Edwin Mitchell (1863–1931), OBE, Lieutenant Colonel George Augustus Anson (b.1857), CBE |
 Reading Museum - Town Hall |
Reading | 2 | Rufus Isaacs (1860–1935), George Blackall Simonds (1843–1929) |
 National Portrait Gallery |
London | 2 | Glyn Warren Philpot, Sir Gerald Kelly |
 Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales |
Aberystwyth | 2 | Sir William Reardon Smith (1856–1935), Lady Ellen Reardon Smith (1857–1939) |
Velg et tiår for å se originalverket som definerer det.
In this 1905 portrait, we find ourselves in the presence of John Lancaster. He is seated in an ornate chair, his upper body filling the frame with a quiet, commanding presence. The composition is centered, drawing the eye immediately to the man himself, while the background remains dark and indistinct. This lack of environmental detail ensures that nothing distracts from the subject's steady, composed demeanor. He sits at a slight…
The room feels heavy with the silence of a courtroom, held within the stillness of this 1914 oil painting. Sir Ellis Jones Griffiths sits anchored in his chair, a figure of profound authority draped in the stark black of his judicial robe. A white wig, detailed with delicate frills, rests upon his head, framing a face that carries the deep lines of experience and the gravity of his station. The…
In this somber oil portrait, we encounter Mrs. Henry E. Huntington (Arabella Duvall Yarrow Huntington Huntington). The subject sits with a quiet, heavy dignity, her presence defined by the weight of her mourning attire. A dark veil rests upon her, partially obscuring her features, while dark beaded necklaces hang against her clothing. Every detail of her dress speaks to a period of profound loss and formal remembrance.
This oil on canvas, titled Sir Robert Witt, was executed by the artist Oswald Birley in 1931. The portrait depicts a man seated in a formal manner, presented with a quiet dignity. The subject of the work was a successful lawyer and art historian who maintained a significant presence in the study of visual history.
The subject is seated at a desk, his hands folded in a gesture of stillness. He wears the crimson robes of a Doctor of Civil Law, which contrast with the darker tones of his formal suit and tie. A pair of spectacles rests upon his face, and a well-groomed mustache sits above his mouth. The skin of his face shows the lines of age. In the background, the room contains…
The subject of this oil on canvas is the Right Honourable Edward William Spencer, the 10th Duke of Devonshire. He is depicted as an elderly man, positioned slightly off-center to the right of the frame. He wears ceremonial robes that suggest a high-ranking position or membership in an esteemed order. These garments feature heavy folds and textures rendered in shades of white, cream, and grey, accented by touches of red…
Sir Robert Witt (1931), Courtauld Gallery, London. Deretter følger Sir John Edwin Mitchell (1863–1931), OBE (1930) og Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937) (1932).
51 år gammel: Sir Robert Witt er fra 1931, og Oswald Birley ble født i 1880.
Sir Robert Witt, Sir John Edwin Mitchell (1863–1931), OBE, Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937), Clement Attlee (1883–1967), 1st Earl Attlee, Wearing DCL Robes, Commoner, Prime Minister (1945–1951), Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay (1883–1945), KCB, John Lancaster (1842–1918), Sir Ellis Jones Griffiths (1860–1926), KC, Mrs. Henry E. Huntington (Arabella Duvall Yarrow Huntington Huntington), Joseph E. Widener og Ernest Rutherford, Lord Rutherford of Nelson (1871–1937), Cavendish Professor (1919–1937). Rangeringen ovenfor viser årstall og museum for hvert verk.
Vår katalog inneholder 156 verk av Oswald Birley, datert fra 1900 til 1950.
Hovedsakelig i Ludlow Museum Resource Centre (Ludlow), County Hall (Hertford) og National Trust (Cambridge). Museumslisten ovenfor viser alle.
I 1930s: 46 av de 100 verkene på denne siden ble laget da, Sir Robert Witt av dem.
På denne siden er det eldste Henry Richard Lloyd Howard of Wigfair (1853–1922), CB (1900) og det nyeste Right Honourable Edward William Spencer (1895–1950), 10th Duke of Devonshire (1950).
Portrait (14), Man (13) og Portraiture (7), fordelt på 100 verk på denne siden.
Oil On Canvas, for 24 av de 100 verkene på denne siden.
Contemporary realism, basert på originalene på denne siden.
J. Bowan Jones, Haywood Lonsdale (d.1976) og Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Charles Donaldson Hudson (1874–1941): Ludlow Museum Resource Centre, Ludlow har 3 av verkene på denne siden.
Sir Oswald Hornby Joseph Birley står som en monumental skikkelse i den britiske portrettmaleriets historie, en kunstner hvis pensel fanget selve essensen av en epoke definert av overgang og storhet. Han ble født 31. mars 1880 inn i en slekt preget av militær betydning—hans far, Hugh Francis Birley, var en mann med betydelig historisk tyngde—og Birleys tidlige liv ble formet av de disiplinerte tradisjonene til den britiske overklassen. Hans formative år ved Harrow School og Trinity College i Cambridge ga ham mer enn bare en eliteutdannelse; de inngydde i ham en dyp verdsettelse for klassisk lærdom og et nitid øye for detaljer som senere skulle bli selve kjennetegnet på hans kunstneriske mesterskap. Dette intellektuelle fundamentet gjorde det mulig for ham å nærme seg portrettkunsten ikke bare som en teknisk øvelse, men som en dyp psykologisk utforskning av sine motiver.
Birleys livsbane ble uforanderlig endret ved utbruddet av den store krigen. Gjennom sin utmerkede tjeneste i Royal Fusiliers og senere i Intelligence Corps, viste han et mot som ga ham Military Cross i 1yt919. Denne perioden med intens konflikt og tjeneste tilførte hans karakter en unik dybde, og gjennomsyret hans senere arbeid med en dyp forståelse for menneskelig motstandskraft, lederskap og ansvarets tyngde. Krigens skygger og alvoret i krigstidens etterretning bidro sannsynligvis til den subtile, sjelfulle realismen man finner i hans fremstillinger av verdens mest innflytelsesrike skikkelser, noe som lot ham se forbi berømmelsens overflate for å finne menneskeligheten under.
Birleys oppstigning til kunstverdenens tinder ble sementert gjennom hans ekstraordinære forhold til det britiske monarkiet. Ved å sikre seg beskyttelse fra kong George V og dronning Mary, ble han den fremste kronikøren av den edwardianske perioden og mellomkrigstiden. Hans stil, preget av en utsøkt kontroll over lyset, subtile tonale graderinger og en nitidig oppmerksomhet på tekstur, gjorde det mulig for ham å gjengi kongelegheten med pustløs nøyaktighet, samtidig som han opprettholdt en intim forbindelse til sitterens sjel. Han malte ikke bare kroner og hermelin; han malte verdigheten og suverenitetens byrde.
Utenfor palassets murer var Birleys rekkevidde virkelig global, da hans talent tiltrakk seg de mest betydningsfulle lederne i det 20. århundre. Hans portefølje fungerer som et visuelt historisk dokument, med ikoniske likhetstrekk av skikkelser som:
Hans evne til å bevege seg mellom aristokratiets overdådige omgivelser og de politiske revolusjonærenes nakne, kraftfulle nærvær, vitner om et allsidig geni. Gjennom hans arbeid balanseres teksturene av silke og fløyel mot den rå, psykologiske intensiteten i motivenes blikk, noe som skaper en samling verk som handler like mye om karakter som om komposisjon.
Sir Oswald Birleys varige betydning ligger i hans evne til å bygge bro mellom tradisjonelt akademisk portrettmaling og en mer moderne, psykologisk realisme. Selv om teknikken hans forble forankret i de klassiske tradisjonene med fine detaljer og formell eleganse, foregrep hans fokus på motivenes indre liv mye av den emosjonelle dybden man ser hos senere portrettmalere. Han besatt en sjelden evne til å bruke lyset ikke bare for å definere form, men for å antyde stemning og historisk tyngde. Hvert strøk var tilsiktet og bidro til en atmosfære av varighet og erindring.
Når vi ser tilbake på hans liv og virke, forblir Birley mer enn bare en maler av eliten; han var en historiker av det menneskelige ansikt. Hans portretter fungerer som vinduer inn i en svunnen verden, og bevarer likhetene til de som formet den moderne tidsalder. Gjennom sin mestring av mediet sørget Sir Oswald Birley for at verdigheten, kampen og triumfene til hans motiver vil forbli etset inn i kunstverdenens kollektive minne for alltid.
