Herbert Gurschner, who was born in the Tyrolean capital Innsbruck in 1901, received his first training at the arts and crafts school in his place of birth and then went to the Munich art academy. His oeuvre is partly shaped by his Tyrolean homeland. The main themes here are views of the surroundings and show rural life. Through his English wives he finally lives and works in London, where he frequented aristocratic, economic and cultural circles and so his artistic success with exhibition activities took the right course. He became one of the most sought-after portraitists in European society.

His portraits include, among others, Lawrence of Arabia and King Gustav of Sweden. With the Second World War he finally received British citi...