Artist, draughtsman and teacher, born in 1891 in Ukraine. At just a few weeks old his family moved to England and he was brought up in Liverpool, where he attended the School of Art in 1906. Winning several scholarships and the King’s Medal, he went on to study at the Royal College of Art, the Académie Julian in Paris and finally the Slade School of Fine Art, 1912–13. His work is held in many public collections round the country. He was the father of the artist Philip Meninsky.
Bernard Meninsky (1891-1950), Portrait of a Boy, 1928
Pencil and oil on paper laid on board
18 ½ x 18 ¼ in (47 x 46.3 cm)
Signed and dated
Collections: Mrs Henry Ford
The sitter is probably one of the artist’s sons David (b.1918) or Philip (b.1919). Meninsky’s wife left him before the boys were 2 years old and they were bought up by relatives. Meninsky was an affectionate father and his very tender series of drawings of the Mother and Child theme exhibited in 1920 established his reputation.
This charming picture was formerly in the collection of Kathleen DuRoss Ford. She was a model photographer and violinist before marrying Henry Ford 11 in 1980. Ford was the grandson of the motor company’s founder and credited with the revival of its fortunes.