The Poet 1948 by Albert Reuss, “The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, Mignard: The Power of Posing” at South Shields Museum and Art Gallery

Albert Reuss was born in Vienna. After having a number of different jobs, he followed his dream of becoming an artist, initially focusing on portraiture. Over time he established himself as a successful painter and sculptor.

However, when Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, as a jew, Reuss was threatened with persecution. He fled to England with his wife Rosa. They were aided by the pacifist John Sturge Stephens, who helped many Austrian Jews escape from the Nazi regime. Stephens let Reuss and his wife stay in one his cottages at St Mawes, Cornwall while the artist rebuilt his life and career.

The trauma Reuss experienced, which included the murder of many members of his family in the Holocaust, dramatically affected the style of his art. Previously his compositions had been elaborate and colourful, but now they changed to be much simpler, with muted tones, and with the people looking disengaged or sad.

Reuss exhibited in a number of galleries across England.

In 1948, he and Rosa opened the ARRA Gallery in Mousehole, Cornwall.

Provenance: purchased from the artist, 1952

Object description
Type: Easel Painting
Location: South Shields Museum, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: Albert Reuss (1889-1975)
Date: 1948

Image Details
Date: 31 August 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Telephoto Camera 52mm ƒ/2.4
Focal Length: 52mm
Aperture: ƒ/2.4
Shutter Speed: 1/50s
ISO: 250
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.