William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Gerald Leslie Brockhurst is in Painters.
On 12th April 1882 [his father] Arthur Brockhurst [aged 23] and [his mother] Amelia Ward [aged 21] were married.
On 31st October 1890 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst was born to Arthur Brockhurst [aged 31] and Amelia Ward [aged 29] at 106 Summer Road, Edgbaston. Their fourth son. He was baptised at St Thomas' Church, Birmingham on 8th February 1891. His father's trade is given as Coal Merchant.
Around 1902 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 11] entered the Birmingham Art School.
1905. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 14]. Self-Portrait.
In 1907 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 16] was a pupil at the Royal Academy Schools.
In 1913 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 22] won the Royal Academy School's gold medal and a travelling scholarship enabling him to visit both France and Italy.
After 1913. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 22]. Portrait of the [his future wife] Anaïs Melisande Folin.
Around 1914. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 23]. Portrait of the [his future wife] Anaïs Melisande Folin.
In October 1914 or on 5th December 1914 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 23] and Anaïs Melisande Folin were married in Chelsea. She became his model for most of his early etchings of young womanhood from 1920 till 1934.
Between 1915 and 1919 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 24] and his wife Anaïs Melisande Folin lived in Ireland where they were friends with Augustus John [aged 36] and his circle.
In 1916 and 1919 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 25] stage exhibitions at Chelsea's Chenil Gallery.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 10th August 1918 [his father] Arthur Brockhurst [aged 59] died
1921. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 30]. "L'Eventail (Anaïs)", aka "The Fan". Model [his wife] Anaïs Melisande Folin.
In 1922 Brockhurst's [aged 31] marriage with [his wife] Anaïs Melisande Folin came under strain when she discovered he was having a relationship with her sister Marguerite Folin.
1922. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 31]. "Le Beguin (Anaïs)". Model [his wife] Anaïs Melisande Folin. The title is taken from the French-Moorish cap or head band worn by women from Anaïs's home town of Dax, in southwest France. Beguin means bonnet and also, colloquially, an infatuation.
Around 1922. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 31]. "Nadia".
1925. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 34]. Portrait of Charles Carpenter.
1925. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 34]. "The Dancer (Anaïs)". Model [his wife] Anaïs Melisande Folin.
In 1928 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 37] was appointed Visitor to the Royal Academy Schools. It was at this time that he met the sixteen-year-old artist's life model [his future wife] Kathleen Woodward [aged 15] who he named Dorette.
Before February 1928 [his daughter] Melisande Brockhurst was born to Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 37] and [his wife] Anaïs Melisande Folin.
February 1928. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 37]. "The Two Mélisandes". Portrait of the artist's wife Anaïs Melisande Folin and their daughter Melisande.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
March 1930. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 39]. Henry Rushbury No 2.
Around 1931. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 40]. Portrait of Margaret Whigham Duchess of Argyll [aged 18].
1932. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 41]. "Adolescence". Portrait of [his future wife] Kathleen Woodward [aged 19].
1934. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 43]. "Jeunesse Dorée (Gilded Youth)". Portrait of [his future wife] Kathleen Woodward [aged 21]. Painted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. It was bought for £1000 by William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme [aged 45], for his Lady Lever Art Gallery [Map] on the very first day of the show.
Around 1935. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 44]. Portrait of Merle Oberon [aged 23].
Merle Oberon: On 19th February 1911 she was born. On 23rd November 1979 she died.
Around 1935. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 44]. Portrait of Nancy Woodward. Sister of his wife.
Around 1935. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 44]. "Dorette". Portrait of [his future wife] Kathleen Woodward [aged 22].
In 1937 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 46] was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy.
1937. Howard Coster. Photograph of Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 46].
1937. Howard Coster. Photograph of Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 46] in the process of painting his portrait of Marlene Dietrich.
In 1937 [his future wife] Kathleen Woodward [aged 24] gave an interview to the Sunday Express in which she described her relationship with Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 46].
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
1939. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 48]. "By the Hills". Model Marguerite Rose Bligh aka Tangye [aged 25]. The painting achieved top price at the Royal Academy summer exhibition that year.
1939. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 48]. Portrait of Marlene Dietrich [aged 37].
Marlene Dietrich: On 27th December 1901 she was born. On 6th May 1992 she died.
1939. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 48]. Portrait of Wallis Warfield aka Simpson Duchess of Windsor [aged 42]. Cost 1,000 guineas (around £39,000 today) with the Duchess sitting for Brockhurst at his New York studio. It depicts the Duchess in a navy blue silk blouse and chiffon skirt by Mainbocher and includes the fabulous Bouquet of Flowers brooch by Van Cleef and Arpels (catalogued by Van Cleef and Arpels as the Hawaii brooch and purchased for Wallis by the Duke in 1938).
In August 1939 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 48] and [his future wife] Kathleen Woodward [aged 27] moved to America. They lived at Franklin Lakes New Jersey.
On 30th March 1940 [his mother] Amelia Ward [aged 79] died.
On 12th April 1940 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 49] and Anaïs Melisande Folin were divorced.
1942. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 51]. "Ophelia". Portrait of [his future wife] Kathleen Woodward [aged 29].
1942. Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 51]. Portrait of [his future wife] Kathleen Woodward [aged 29].
In 1947 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 56] and Kathleen Woodward [aged 34] were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of unknown person.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of unknown person.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of unknown person.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of unknown person.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait known as "Basque Boy".
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of A C J Wall.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of Edward Partington 3rd Baron Doverdale.
Edward Partington 3rd Baron Doverdale: On 25th February 1904 he was born to Oswald Partington 2nd Baron Doverdale and Clara Isabel Murray Baroness Doverdale. On 18th May 1933 Edward Partington 3rd Baron Doverdale and Audrey Ailsa Pointing were married. On 23rd May 1935 Oswald Partington 2nd Baron Doverdale died. His son Edward succeeded 3rd Baron Doverdale of Westwood Park in Worcestershire. On 18th January 1949 Edward Partington 3rd Baron Doverdale died. Baron Doverdale of Westwood Park in Worcestershire extinct.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of Gilliam.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of Jeannette Horlick-Bowles, Wife of John Bowles, Greenwich, Connecticut.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of unknown person.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of unknown person.
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. "Dorinda". Portrait of [his wife] Kathleen Woodward [aged 65].
Before 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87]. Portrait of Mrs Lebus.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 4th May 1978 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 87] died at Franklin Lakes New Jersey.
On 23rd April 1995 [his former wife] Kathleen Woodward [aged 83] died at Ridgewood Village, Bergen, New Jersey, USA.