| Terence
Cuneo was born in London, the son of Cyrus and Nell
Cuneo, artists who met whilst studying with Whistler
in Paris. Cuneo studied at the Chelsea Polytechnic from
1924 to 1927 before working as an illustrator for magazines,
books and periodicals (like his father). In 1936 Cuneo
started working in oils, whilst continuing with his
illustration work. During the war he worked for the
War Artists Advisory Committee providing illustrations
of aircraft factories and wartime events. Cuneo was
personally commissioned to do work for the MOI by Embleton,
Edwin. Cuneo was a member of the London Sketch Club
in the 1940s, and was an 'establishment artist for much
of the latter half of the twentieth century'. He painted
portraits, including the Coronation of 1953, and was
an artist to industry, 'renowned for his work portraying
mines, dams, industrial processes, but above all his
railway scenes'.
Post-war Cuneo was commissioned to produce a series
of railway posters; locomotive, track, locomotive
works and bridges, a subject with which Cuneo was
fascinated, and work for which he became renowned.
Commissioned to portray the Coronation in 1953, his
name was brought before a world-wide public, receiving
many more commissions for portraits, depictions of
industry, regimental commissions and battle scenes.
On his own account, Cuneo also covered a wide range
of subjects, including 'big game in Africa, landscapes
and his famous "mouse paintings"', from
which his trademark, a small mouse, developed.
His works can be found in museums in: London, H.M.
The Queen Moth, Guildhall Art Gallery, H.M. The Queen
and the Royal Institution. The family of Terence Cuneo
are also looking to establish an archive of his work,
covering railway, military and equestrian art, including
work commissioned by the Queen.
See
- Cuneo, Terence Mouse and His Master: Life and
Works of Terence Cuneo 1977
Information collated from: The Guild of Railway
Artists, 'Railway Art Galley: Terence Cuneo Biography',
http://www.railart.co.uk/gallery/cuneo.html,
Access 28 August 2003; Questionnaire submitted by
Royall, K. to Embleton, E., Royall, K., 'Posters of
the Second World War: The Fourth Arm of British Defence',
Unpublished M.A., University of Westminster, 1991,
p.123; Farman, J., 'galleryonthegreen.co.uk', http://www.galleryonthegreen.co.uk/mainfiles/sketch/history.htm,
accessed October 03 2003; Terence Cuneo Family, 'About
Terence Cuneo', http://www.terencecuneo.co.uk/htm/about_tc.htm,
accessed August 28 2003
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