Gerald Brockhurst (1890-1978)

Painter and etcher, born in Birmingham, West Midlands. He studied at Birmingham School of Art and RA Schools, 1907. In 1919 he held his first solo exhibition Chenil Gallery, London, and exhibited at RA, 1923-53. He lived in Ireland 1915-20. In 1933 he exhibited 'Dorette' at the RA. The model, Dorette Woodward, became the subject of several other paintings and etchings. In 1937 he was elected an Associate of the RA. He was elected RE and in 1938 he painted the Duchess of Windsor and was commissioned also to paint Marlene Dietrich which was never finished. In 1939 he moved to New York with Dorette whom he married in 1947, after his former wife sued successfully for a divorce. Examples of his work are in the collection of Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, NPG, London, Lady Lever Art Gallery, Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston, McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.With thanks to