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Bernard Dunstan RA NEAC 1920 - 2017
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Message
Posted
I was so sorry to hear this week that Bernard Dunstan has passed away. A painter of such subtlety and tenderness, I have always found his work to be inspirational. He also wrote quite a few books, I've just ordered two from the 1970's that I didn't have. One is called 'Painting methods of the impressionists'.
He lived in Kew with his wife, artist Diana Armfield RA. It is said that every morning since they married he started the day with a quick sketch of her nude, isn't that brilliant? I expect he had to make her a cup of tea first, don't you?
I saw their joint exhibition at the Royal Acadamy a couple of years ago which was wonderful, such an active painting couple still and well into their nineties.
I don't think they make Royal Academicians like him anymore :-(
Posted
<div>Thank you for that Haidee-Jo, I hadn't read the sad news of his death. He was the longest serving Royal Academician who did indeed write many books, one of which was Paintings in Progress which I have a rather nice copy of. The quality and style of his life drawings are exceptional and will have been an inspiration to many aspiring painters over the decades.</div>
Posted
It is indeed sad news to learn that Bernard Dunstan has died. He was a painter whose method - using delicate colour applied with direct expressive brush strokes - was quite distinctive and instantly recognisable. His paintings - mostly of modest size - were nude figure studies many of his wife Diana Armfield RA in hotel bedrooms. His paintings were developed from quick drawings and sketches - a skill traditionally learned in the life room. It is sad that contemporary painting seems to have abandoned this tradition.
Many years ago I bought'The Paintings of Bernard Dunston' every page has a reproduction of one of his paintings and as a bonus the endpapers display examples of his drawings. Probably now long out of print but it's well worth a if a copy can be found via inter library loan.
Edited
by robK2
Posted
Bernard Dunstan was 97 - a remarkable, long, productive life; and was also a member of the editorial board of The Artist magazine, I think - so one of our own in more senses than one.
He was a lovely, sensitive painter, and I think Haidee-Jo is right - they don't make Royal Academicians like that any more.
Posted
I thought people might like to read this piece about Bernard Dunstan on the Making a mark blog, there's also a nice little video clip of him working in the studio with a commentary by his wife Diana Armfield.
https://makingamark.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/bernard-dunstan-ra-pprwa-neac-1920-2017.html
