Cyrus Cincinnati Cuneo (1879-1916)

This tragically short-lived artist had a remarkable life. Born in San Francisco of Italian parents, he became fly-weight boxing champion of the city. With the money earned from the sport, he fulfilled a long-held ambition to study in Paris. He first attended Carlo Rossi's studio, and then became the chief student at Whistler's, where he met his wife, Nell Marion Tenison. The present picture shows her enjoying a picnic with her son Terence, who would later also enjoy a distinguished career as a painter of trains and other forms of transport, both military and civilian. Cyrus Cuneo was employed by the Illustrated London News to depict the funeral of King Edward VII and the coronation of King George V. His son, Terence, was appointed the official artist for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Cyrus Cuneo died from blood-poisoning after being accidently stabbed by a hat-pin at a dance. Very few of his paintings survive.