Vera Cuningham (also known as Vera Cunningham) (6 November 1897 – 3 May 1955) was a British artist. Cuningham modeled for and had relationships with fellow artists Bernard Meninsky and Matthew Smith. She lived and exhibited her works in London and Paris, where she fled with Smith at the beginning of their affair. Some of her works are in public collections in England.
Cuningham modeled for and was in a relationship with Bernard Meninsky when she met Matthew Smith[5] in 1922[3] or 1923.[6] At the time, Smith was married to Gwen Salmond,[7] but Cuningham and Matthew Smith left their partners[5] and moved to Paris, where they lived at 6 bis Villa Brune.[6] The British Museum states that they both exhibited in 1922 at the Société des Artistes Indépendants and at the Amis de Montparnasse.[3] Smith's paintings of her between 1923 and 1926 include Vera Cuningham, Head and Shoulders,Vera Cuningham in a Chair,Vera Reclining in a Pink Slip, and Vera in a Yellow Dress, all of which are in the Corporation of London Collection. The paintings of her generally fill the canvas, emphasizing her voluptuous figure.[5] Malcolm Yorke described her in his book as "a guffawing, red-haired, rosy-cheeked, plump-bodied, highly sexed young woman who was determined to become a professional artist."[5] Her demeanor may have been in opposition to her family background. For instance, her mother had connections with aristocrats.[5] She had given much of her time to modeling for Smith, but became singularly focused on her own paintings in 1925 and soon after their relationship ended.[5]
Careeredit
In 1929, she had her first solo exhibition at the Bloomsbury Gallery.[3] She was with Smith in Woolhope, near Hereford, in 1932.[6] In the late 1930s, Cuningham produced several theatre designs. She participated in Colling Galleries Civil Defence Artists' shows during World War II.[3] Exhibitions were held in 1948, 1951, and 1954 by Raymond Creuze, her Paris dealer.[3]
She lived in Hampstead, London,[3][5] and at the time of her death on 3 May 1955 she lived at Logs Cottage on Well Road. She had never married,[1][2] but it has been reported that Cuningham died in the arms of Matthew Smith.[5] A retrospective of her work was held in 1985 by the Barbican Art Gallery.[8]
James Thomas Herbert Baily (1956). The Connoisseur: An Illustrated Magazine for Collectors. Hearst Corporation. p. 248.
Vera Cuningham; Leonard Greaves; Paul Nash (1947). Vera Cuningham, Leonard Greaves, Paul Nash. Redfern Gallery.
Vera Cuningham (1984). Vera Cuningham: Goff's Oak (Hertfordshire), 6th of November 1897, London, 3rd of May 1955. Raymond Creuze. ISBN9782905037015.
Andrew Ellis; Sonia Roe; Pat Hardy (2009). Oil Paintings in Public Ownership in the City of London. Public Catalogue Foundation. ISBN978-1-904931-76-8.
Alice Keene; Barbican Art Gallery (1995). The two Mr. Smiths: the life and work of Sir Matthew Smith, 1879-1959. Lund Humphries in association with the Corporation of London. ISBN978-0-85331-669-5.
^ ab"Cuningham, Vera (1897-1955)". VIAF. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
^ ab"Vera Irene Walpole Cunningham" (PDF). The London Gazette: Gazette. 26 August 1955. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
^ abcdefghijkl"Vera Cunningham (1897-1955)". British Museum. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
^. The London Group. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
^ abcdefghJill Berk Jiminez (15 October 2013). Dictionary of Artists' Models. Taylor & Francis. pp. 134–136. ISBN978-1-135-95921-0.
^ abc"Matthew Smith (1879-1959) Landscapes, 2010". Bath and North East Somerset Council. pp. 45, 46. Retrieved 6 March 2015 – via ISSUU.
^Germaine Greer (2 June 2001). The Obstacle Race: The Fortunes of Women Painters and Their Work. Tauris Parke Paperbacks. p. 53. ISBN978-1-86064-677-5.
^Vera Cuningham; Graham Reynolds; Barbican Art Gallery (1985). Vera Cuningham: 1897-1955. Barbican Art Gallery.
^"Woman Wearing a Large Hat". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
^"Landscape". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
External linksedit
3 artworks by or after Vera Cuningham at the Art UK site
March 17, 2024
vera, cuningham, also, known, vera, cunningham, november, 1897, 1955, british, artist, cuningham, modeled, relationships, with, fellow, artists, bernard, meninsky, matthew, smith, lived, exhibited, works, london, paris, where, fled, with, smith, beginning, the. Vera Cuningham also known as Vera Cunningham 6 November 1897 3 May 1955 was a British artist Cuningham modeled for and had relationships with fellow artists Bernard Meninsky and Matthew Smith She lived and exhibited her works in London and Paris where she fled with Smith at the beginning of their affair Some of her works are in public collections in England Vera CuninghamBornVera Irene Walpole Martin Cuningham6 November 1897Goffs Oak Hertfordshire England United KingdomDied3 May 1955 1955 05 03 aged 57 Hampstead London England United KingdomNationalityBritishEducationCentral School of Arts and CraftsKnown forPaintingModeling Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Early career and love interests 3 Career 4 Collections 5 Further reading 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and education editVera Irene Walpole Martin Cuningham was born in 1897 at Goffs Oak Hertfordshire 1 2 to Scottish parents 3 Cuningham attended Central School of Arts and Crafts where she studied painting 3 In 1922 she began exhibiting her work with The London Group 3 and became a member of the organization in 1927 4 Early career and love interests editCuningham modeled for and was in a relationship with Bernard Meninsky when she met Matthew Smith 5 in 1922 3 or 1923 6 At the time Smith was married to Gwen Salmond 7 but Cuningham and Matthew Smith left their partners 5 and moved to Paris where they lived at 6 bis Villa Brune 6 The British Museum states that they both exhibited in 1922 at the Societe des Artistes Independants and at the Amis de Montparnasse 3 Smith s paintings of her between 1923 and 1926 include Vera Cuningham Head and Shoulders Vera Cuningham in a Chair Vera Reclining in a Pink Slip and Vera in a Yellow Dress all of which are in the Corporation of London Collection The paintings of her generally fill the canvas emphasizing her voluptuous figure 5 Malcolm Yorke described her in his book as a guffawing red haired rosy cheeked plump bodied highly sexed young woman who was determined to become a professional artist 5 Her demeanor may have been in opposition to her family background For instance her mother had connections with aristocrats 5 She had given much of her time to modeling for Smith but became singularly focused on her own paintings in 1925 and soon after their relationship ended 5 Career editIn 1929 she had her first solo exhibition at the Bloomsbury Gallery 3 She was with Smith in Woolhope near Hereford in 1932 6 In the late 1930s Cuningham produced several theatre designs She participated in Colling Galleries Civil Defence Artists shows during World War II 3 Exhibitions were held in 1948 1951 and 1954 by Raymond Creuze her Paris dealer 3 She lived in Hampstead London 3 5 and at the time of her death on 3 May 1955 she lived at Logs Cottage on Well Road She had never married 1 2 but it has been reported that Cuningham died in the arms of Matthew Smith 5 A retrospective of her work was held in 1985 by the Barbican Art Gallery 8 Collections editSusannah and the Elders 1934 Pallant House Gallery Chichester 3 Woman Wearing a Large Hat early 20th century gouache painting Victoria and Albert Museum 9 Landscape 1949 Victoria and Albert Museum 10 Exhuberant Flower 1954 Manchester City Galleries 3 Still Life with Mackerel City of London Corporation Guildhall Gallery London 3 Further reading editJames Thomas Herbert Baily 1956 The Connoisseur An Illustrated Magazine for Collectors Hearst Corporation p 248 Vera Cuningham Leonard Greaves Paul Nash 1947 Vera Cuningham Leonard Greaves Paul Nash Redfern Gallery Vera Cuningham 1984 Vera Cuningham Goff s Oak Hertfordshire 6th of November 1897 London 3rd of May 1955 Raymond Creuze ISBN 9782905037015 Andrew Ellis Sonia Roe Pat Hardy 2009 Oil Paintings in Public Ownership in the City of London Public Catalogue Foundation ISBN 978 1 904931 76 8 Alice Keene Barbican Art Gallery 1995 The two Mr Smiths the life and work of Sir Matthew Smith 1879 1959 Lund Humphries in association with the Corporation of London ISBN 978 0 85331 669 5 Lefevre Gallery 1956 Vera Cuningham Lefevre Gallery References edit a b Cuningham Vera 1897 1955 VIAF Retrieved 6 March 2015 a b Vera Irene Walpole Cunningham PDF The London Gazette Gazette 26 August 1955 Retrieved 6 March 2015 a b c d e f g h i j k l Vera Cunningham 1897 1955 British Museum Retrieved 6 March 2015 History of the London Group New Members by Year The London Group Archived from the original on 23 February 2015 Retrieved 6 March 2015 a b c d e f g h Jill Berk Jiminez 15 October 2013 Dictionary of Artists Models Taylor amp Francis pp 134 136 ISBN 978 1 135 95921 0 a b c Matthew Smith 1879 1959 Landscapes 2010 Bath and North East Somerset Council pp 45 46 Retrieved 6 March 2015 via ISSUU Germaine Greer 2 June 2001 The Obstacle Race The Fortunes of Women Painters and Their Work Tauris Parke Paperbacks p 53 ISBN 978 1 86064 677 5 Vera Cuningham Graham Reynolds Barbican Art Gallery 1985 Vera Cuningham 1897 1955 Barbican Art Gallery Woman Wearing a Large Hat Victoria and Albert Museum Retrieved 6 March 2015 Landscape Victoria and Albert Museum Retrieved 6 March 2015 External links edit3 artworks by or after Vera Cuningham at the Art UK site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vera Cuningham amp oldid 1168882433, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
