Who?

[Archivos]

Ernest Rutherford is who Google Images matches it to...I did think it looked a bit like Joseph Stalin(!) but thankfully the moustache is all wrong.  And the face.

Artist different from the one that Ady mentioned but same image!

Painted 1932 

I know, it's strange as the signature on the Portrait Gallery image is the same, yet they've got it as being by Sir James Gunn.  That signature also appears on one of his other pictures, of Eric William Fenby.  Must be a pen name.

[Gadget]

Sir James Gunn's full name was Herbert James Gunn - so H James Simmons fits in part - I wonder if his mother was a Sim(m)ons.

Maybe worth checking on SP! Born 1893.



Added - MMN Munro 

[PrueM]

Oh, crikey! Seems my pessimism was totally unfounded and Rootschatters have come to the rescue, as usual 

Well done, especially to China who picked the right bloke.  How did you know what Ernest Rutherford looked like, China?  You a closet famous physicist collector or something?

Added:  I do wonder whether the signature actually does say "Gunn" and not "Simmons".  I can't find anything to suggest he used a pseudonym.  Also, this picture is probably a print of the painting that's in the NPG, and not an actual painting.

[Gadget]

Definitely H James Simmons in both signatures , Prue. I've had a good look. It's clearer on the NP enlarged one,  but no doubting it. Also, Archivos has found at least one other painting where he signs as that.

  That signature also appears on one of his other pictures, of Eric William Fenby.  Must be a pen name.

gnu

[PrueM]

It looks like Simmons but I can't find any information to say that he used this name.  This page says "from 1914 the artist began signing his paintings H.J. Gunn, as seen in the left corner of the present work, then from 1926 he changed his signature to H. James Gunn" (http://www.richard-green.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=6&tabindex=5&objectid=392655)

Looking at the surname written on that painting, it's very similar to the one on Ady's picture, but it definitely says "Gunn".

[Gadget]

I think we'll agree to disagree on this one, Prue  but the surname looks too long to be Gunn. Also, the person who owns it says it reads Sim(m)ons and it looks like  a copy of the original.



gnu

[Ady B-)]

WOW!
You guys & gals are absolutely A-MAZ-ING
Fantastic work by all concerned and what a result
The picture that my brother has is well framed and from memory, looks like a water colour as it is quite pale and softly coloured, almost in pastle shades
Is there any chance that this picture was a product of early mass production and the responible party/ies altered the signature to avoid any legal issues?
Just a thought :]
Finaly, for now, does anyone know the value of the one that my brother has?
I'm cetain that it's totally irrelevant as it sits nicely on his hallway wall and is a very nice piece to look at
Many, many thanks to you ALL on this one for your first class detective work
Very best regards
Ady B-)

[Emmeline]

Hello Ady

Great result. Pleased to know that there is a little bit of N.Z. hanging in your brother's home in

Wales.

[PrueM]

I think the signature could be mis-read as Simmons but I'm sure it's Gunn.  Why would it be Simmons?

Ady, if it's a reproduction (i.e. a print) then it's probably worth very little in dollar terms, but if you like it that's all that matters