Squadron Leader Philip Robert Beare DFC by Eric Kennington, pastel on paper

This pastel portrait is one of many made by Eric Kennington during his two-year full-time Official War Artist commission with the Air Ministry through the War Artists' Advisory Committee. A renowned portraitist, he was tasked with portraying high-ranking men in the RAF.

By the time he sat for this portrait, Philip Robert ‘Teddy’ Beare had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for leading bombing raids in Italy with a squadron that included Whitley Mark V heavy bombers. He had previously flown on missions for reconnaissance and dropping leaflets over enemy territory. Beare survived the Second World War and rose to the rank of Group Captain in 1958. From the Air Ministry allocation of works from the War Artists' Advisory Committee, 1947. Original accession number: LD701. On loan from the RAF Air Historical Branch (MOD). Copyright: Crown (expired) / RAF Museum.