| Description | Rodney Burn was a figure and landscape painter, who spent many years teaching painting and drawing at various art schools. The collection consists of correspondence from Burn's associatates including: Henry Tonks, whilst Burn was teaching at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts; William James, during and just after Burn's time in Boston; A.W. Daniel, director of the National Gallery, London, during Burn's time in Boston and his return to England; and William Rothenstein. |
| Administrative History | Rodney Burn was born in 1899 in London. He attended Harrow School before going on to train at the Slade School under Henry Tonks, between 1918 and 1922. During this time he won six major prizes including the Summer Composition Prize in 1921. From 1923 he exhibited with the New English Art Club, and became a member in 1926. Between 1929 and 1931, Burn was an assistant teacher at the Royal College of Art and was a tutor there between 1946 and 1965. Between 1931 and 1934, he was a joint director, with Robin Guthrie, of Painting and Drawing at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts, in the USA. During the Second World War Burn served in the Camouflage Directorate. In 1947, he became the Drawing and Painting Master at the City and Guilds School of Art, London. He remained until 1979. Burn travelled widely in Britain before the war, and in France, Spain, Venice and the Greek Islands after. He exhibited regularly at the Goupil and French Galleries, and at the Royal Academy from 1945. He is best-known for his London subjects, views of Venice and for beach scenes. Rodney J. Burn died in 1984. |
| Custodial History | Presented by the artist in 1978. |