Born: 1907. Died: 1989. Nationality: Polish.

Topolski was born in Warsaw and was a student at the Academy of Art there before studying in Italy and France. He moved to London in 1935 and set up a studio near Waterloo. He became sought after as a painter of murals, a notable commission being one for the Festival of Britain in 1951. He was also a successful portraitist, among his subjects were many notable literary and political figures including H G Wells, Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, Harold Macmillan and Aneurin Bevan.

 

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