Leading British artist Frank Auerbach dies at 93

One of Britain’s greatest modern artists, Frank Auerbach, who came here as a child refugee from Nazi Germany, has died at the age of 93.

Born in Berlin in 1931, he was sent by his parents in 1939 to a private boarding school in England. They were later murdered in Auschwitz.

Frank Auerbach (b.1931), Head of Leon Kossoff, 1956-57, Charcoal and chalk on paper. Private Collection © the artist, courtesy of Frankie Rossi Art Projects, London[Missing Credit]

He was among the most illustrious of German-Jewish refugees who exercised a deep influence on British cultural life post-War.

Mentored by another celebrated Anglo-Jewish artist, David Bomberg, and friendly with another Leon Kossoff from their art school days, he enjoyed a career spanning seven decades, attracting the attention of critics with his first solo exhibition in 1956.

Frank Auerbach, The Origin of the Great Bear, Oil paint on board, 1967-8. Courtesy of Tate, LondonTate / Tate Images

An exhibition of his portraits opened at London’s Courthauld Institute earlier this year.

Read more: Portrait of a refugee: looking back at the career of Frank Auerbach

Discovering Frank Auerbach’s true colours

Paintings thick with emotion