Sir Oswald Birley: A Portraitist of Royalty and Remembrance Sir Oswald Hornby Joseph Birley (1880-1952) stands as a prominent figure in the annals of British portrait painting, particularly celebrated for his prolific commissions from the royal family during the early 20th century. Born on March 31st, 1880, in New Zealand to Hugh Francis Birley—a man who would later lead troops at the Peterloo Massacre—Birley’s artistic journey began amidst a lineage steeped in military history and aristocratic tradition. His education at Harrow School and Trinity College Cambridge provided him with a solid…