Augustus John

Painter

Birthday January 4, 1878

Birth Sign Capricorn

Birthplace Wales

DEATH DATE Oct 31, 1961 (83)

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About

Post-Impressionist painter known for his portraits of Colonel T. E. Lawrence and William Butler Yeats. He was the subject of the BBC documentary, 'The Mountain That Had to Be Painted,' from 2011.

Before Fame

He briefly studied at the Tenbly School of Art and later attended the Slade School of Art at University College, London. He was the famed Henry Tonks' prize pupil at Slade.

Trivia

He was fascinated by the Romani people and served as President of the Gypsy Lore Society for nearly 30 years.

Family Life

He had five children with his first wife, Ida Nettleship. After her death, he had two more children with his mistress-turned-wife, Dorothy "Dorelia" McNeill.

Associated With

His work was favorably compared to that of Paul Gauguin and Henri Matisse.