Huge British Mid 20th Century Portrait of a Bank Manager Signed Oil Painting

The Bank Manager
by Stuart Scott Somerville (1908-1983)
signed oil on canvas, framed
Framed: 56 x 47 inches
Canvas: 50 x 40 inches
Provenance: private collection, UK
Condition: very good condition

Stuart Scott Somerville (1908–1983) was an English artist celebrated for his vivid and masterful works in still life, landscapes, and figure painting. Born on February 6, 1908, in Arksey, Doncaster, Yorkshire, he was the son of the artist and collector Charles Somerville. He grew up in a family with a rich artistic tradition, alongside his sisters Peggy and Rosemary Somerville, who were also accomplished artists.

Artistic Career:

Key Themes:
Still Life: His floral compositions, executed in the Dutch Old Master style, are particularly notable for their vibrant colors and meticulous detail.
Figure Painting: Somerville was fascinated by the human form, especially the female nude, which became a recurring subject in his works.
Landscapes: His landscapes, often painted in and around Suffolk, captured the beauty of the English countryside.

Notable Exhibitions:
Exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Royal Hibernian Academy, and the Royal Scottish Academy.
His works were showcased internationally, earning him recognition in the wider art community.

Official Artist:
In the mid-1930s, he served as the official artist for the British Museum Expedition to the Equatorial Mountains of East Africa (1934–1935). This role allowed him to explore and document the natural world, and many of his works from this period were featured in Patrick Synge’s book Mountains of the Moon (1937).

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