BIOGRAPHY - Frank Ernest Beresford (1881 - 1967)

Frank Beresford was born on August 30, 1881, in Derby, United Kingdom. He began his artistic training at the Derby School of Art, then St John's Wood Art School, and finally at the Royal Academy Schools. In 1906, the British Institution Scholarship Fund awarded him fifty pounds a year for two years, allowing him to travel to Asia. He spent much of his time abroad in Japan. Upon returning, he exhibited at the Royal Academy for the first time, receiving recognition from the Imperial Japanese government for a Japanese figure painting he created.

During the Second World War, he worked as a war artist for both Britain and the United States, receiving the Exceptional Service Award from the United States Air Force for his work. His most famous painting is The Princes’ Vigil, showing a scene from the funeral for King George V in 1936. While the king lay in state in Westminster Hall, his four sons watched over him in a midnight vigil. These four sons were the new king Edward VIII, the Duke of York (the future king George VI), the Duke of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent. Queen Mary purchased the work as a birthday present for her son King Edward. Several of Beresford’s works are in the Royal Collection, including portraits of George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Public Collections:

St. John’s Chapel
Museum of Gloucester
Royal Air Force Museum
Parliamentary Art Collection
City of Westminster Archives Center
The Stanley & Ausrey Burton Gallery, University of Leeds
St. Catherine’s College, University of Cambridge
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
National Maritime Museum
Southampton City Art Gallery
The Ecclesbourne School
King’s Lynn Town Hall
Staunton Harold Hall
School of Oriental and African Studies