Arnold Gerstl

Arnold Gerstl was born 17 October 1888 in Prague and died 14 February 1957 in Taplow, UK.

He attended the Imperial and Royal Academy in Prague, then in Vienna, Paris and Spain. He was in charge of the Art Department at the film studios in Schlierbach, Heidelberg between 1913 - 14.

After the First World War, which he spent as an officer of the Austrian army, Gerstl worked primarily in Starnberg, Munich, during which time he had as an agent Otto Franzius and as a patron Dr Richard Paulus (1883–1929).

Gerstl exhibited in the Galerie Paulus in Munich in 1927. In April 1934, urged by the political situation in Germany, he emigrated to England and was naturalised in August 1939.

In 1935 he exhibited at the RA a work entitled 'T Leman Hare, Esq'.

In 1940 he moved to Concord, Torrington, Devon, until 1946, then to The Studio, Woodville, in Bideford. In November 1945 he had an exhibition of a number of portraits and other works at the Westward Ho! Arts Club.

On 23rd October 1951 he became curator of the Burton Art Gallery in Bideford, Devon. In 1956 he moved with his second wife to the Constance Spry Finishing School at Winkfield Place near Windsor.