English: Alfred John Munnings (1878-1959) was one of England's most popular painters. He achieved renown as one of England's finest painters of horses. A man of humble origins, he initially was an observer of upper class life while depicting scenes of rural activities. The First World War brought his career to an important turning point. His engagement by Lord Beaverbrook's Canadian War Memorials Fund led to a series of prestigious post-war commissions. He was accepted in the homes of Britain's most illustrious families. He was admitted to the Royal Academy of Art, became its president, and was knighted. Nevertheless, he remained in touch with his roots and the common folk. Munnings, in the 20th Century, represented traditions in British painting that dated back to the 17th Century, notable relating to sporting pictures (frequently centred upon horses) and rural landscapes.