Joseph Oppenheimer was born into a Jewish family in Wurzburg, Germany in 1876, studying at the Munich Academy in 1892–95. After living in London in 1902–8, he returned to Germany, but with the rise of Hitler in 1933 he resettled in England, remaining until 1949. A renowned portrait painter, he was in great demand from celebrated British and German sitters, including actress Deborah Kerr and Albert Einstein, and frequently exhibited at London's Royal Academy of Arts.
Painter Joseph Oppenheimer was born into a Jewish family in Wurzburg, Germany on 13 July 1876. He studied at the Munich Academy (1892–95), painting numerous studies of the city and the surrounding Bavarian landscape. After graduation he spent six years travelling, visiting Rome, Naples, London and, finally, New York.
From 1896 Oppenheimer established a studio in a building known as the Pheasantry on King's Road in London's Chelsea (a restaurant sited at its location still bears the name today), eventually settling in England in 1902. In 1907 he was elected a member of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers and began teaching at the London School of Art. He also became a member of the Chelsea Arts Club, a renowned haunt for artists in the capital. After marrying his second cousin, Fanny, in 1908 the couple moved to Berlin. However, Oppenheimer's love for the English landscape and English people never faded, and each year he returned to the country for a couple of months. Oppenheimer was especially fond of the River Thames and painted many scenes of Henley-on-Thames; the London suburb of Surbiton; grand English country houses and scenery, as well as London views. In the interwar period, he was mainly working in Berlin and became a member of both Berlin and Munich Secession groups. By this time, he was becoming increasingly well-known for his portraits and was in great demand by celebrated British and German sitters. His portrait commissions included Albert Einstein, Aby Warburg, Max J. Friedländer, Max Liebermann, Yehudi Menuhin, Deborah Kerr, and James Mason, among others. Simultaneously, he was also prolific in producing sketches and paintings of landscapes and still lives.
In early 1933, after Hitler's rise to power, Oppenheimer and his wife returned to England, settling in St. John's Wood in north west London. In 1934 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP), exhibiting frequently in its exhibitions. In 1941 The Manchester Guardian singled out The Two Painters as ‘the most brilliant’ painting on show at the RP's exhibition (E.N. 1941, p. 6). Soon after his return to London, Oppenheimer began a long association with Ben Uri Gallery, showing in group shows from 1935 onwards for almost 20 years, and holding a solo show in 1946. The Oppenheimers became British citizens in 1936, having been sponsored by equerry to King George VI, Sir Louis Greig, and by the noted British painter, Sir John Lavery. In 1938 Oppenheimer exhibited at the Calmann Gallery, recently established by fellow German émigré, Hans Maximilian Calmann. From 1949, Oppenheimer divided his time between Montreal, New York and London. He frequently exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition in London, and in a number of private galleries. In July 1966 Oppenheimer returned to London for the last time, to celebrate his 90th birthday. He continued painting until days before his death.
Joseph Oppenheimer died in Montreal, Canada on 31 August 1966. His works are represented in UK public collections including the Ben Uri Collection and Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood, London, University of Oxford, and the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow. The most extensive collection of his work is held in the Oppenheimer-Prager Museum, New Brunswick, Canada.
Joseph Oppenheimer in the Ben Uri collection
Consult items in the Ben Uri archive related to [Joseph Oppenheimer]
Publications related to [Joseph Oppenheimer] in the Ben Uri Library