Brockhurst was the most celebrated portrait painter of his day and luminaries such as
The Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich, J.Paul Getty and Mrs Paul Mellon all sat to
him. His success was based on his superb draughtsmanship which he displayed in a
beautiful series of drawings and a well known group of etchings.
The subject of the current drawing is probably the artist’s wife Anais Frolin. The
Brockhursts married in 1914 and moved that year to Ireland where they lived until
1919. In Ireland Brockhurst was closely associated with Augustus John whose
influence can be seen in the fusion of delicacy and directness in this exquisite drawing.
The work was formerly owned by the MP Sir Cuthbert Headlam. After distinquished
service in the War Headlam became a Minister at the Admiralty, the Ministry of
Pensions and The Ministry of Transport.