Yvonne Herd Arrowood

This site is dedicated to Robert L. Bruns and to all those special people from the present and from centuries ago who have taught me and teach me yet...to be continued

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Robert L Bruns

(Bob Bruns)

1913-1977

Once upon a time, I met a kind and gentle man...His name was Robert L Bruns
...to be continued.

Biography of Robert L Bruns- written by Yvonne Herd Arrowood as a student at Greenville Jr. High School in April, 1962

Note:

I would like to finish Mr. Bruns' Bio up to the present. A man of his talent should not be forgotten. I am interested in quotes and tributes from former students, locations of his paintings as well as pictures, and other facts to complete his Biography.

Please contact me if you would like to honor Robert L. "Bob" Bruns with a tribute, or provide biographical information or examples of his work.

yha@charter.net

Please click here to help us locate a specific Bruns' painting.

Robert L. Bruns, portrait painter and instructor, was born in Greenville, South Carolina on December 29, 1913. His father, John Fredrict Bruns, was a watchmaker and jeweler as was his grandfather, George Bruns, who came to America from Hanover, Germany. His mother, Agnes Ewbank Bruns, was a descendent of Lucas, court painter to the French Court during the 1500's. Another ancestor, Whitenback on his father's side was private physician to a blind German countess. Whitenback also built the first apartment house in Berne, Switzerland...It is still standing today.

In 1931, Bruns graduated from Greenville Sr. High School. He served in the army during World War II, where he ranked as a First Lieutenant. Two years after the war, he went to New York where he studied for three years at The Art Students League of New York. He studied under a number of well-known artist and sculptors. His instructors included John Carroll, who placed Mr. Bruns in charge of his studio for two years; Other Instructors included Frank V. Drummond, sculptor John Hovanos, water colorist John Mcpheerson, drawing anatomist Robert Johnson and illustrator Frank Riley.



In 1949, Robert Bruns left for France and enrolled at the Academie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. Following his return to the United States, he set up a Studio in Greenville, South Carolina. He married Peggy Bailey in 1958 and continued to live and work in Greenville, South Carolina.

His best-known canvases are: The Vanderbilt Grandchildren (portraits, Ashville, North Carolina); General Wallace (Wallace House); Old Greenville (C & S Bank); and Rev Newman Faulconer (the first Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC).   (to be continued)

Peggy Bailey Bruns

August 3, 1933 - March 25, 2007

For many years, this painting of Mrs. Robert Bruns was displayed on the left wall above the stairs at Mr. Bruns' Studio and Art School on West Washington.

Tired Ballerina

Robert L. Bruns

Oil on Canvas

Painted from life at the Art Student's Leaque of New York in 1947. The painting

was selected for Option by the Art Student's Leaque in the Student Concourse,

spring of 1947.

Note: According to Mr. Bruns' records, this painting is in a private collection in

New York City; however, I remember seeing a similar painting at his West

Washington Street Studio in the sixties.

Pastel Study of Japanese Lady

Robert L. Bruns

I think this was created from a live model at the ASL in New York or from a photo that

Mr. Bruns took during the war. I remember seeing either the photo or the study

in his studio when I was a young teenager.

Spanish Lady?

Robert L. Bruns

Oil on Canvas

Painted as a student at ASL NYC

Judy

Pastel on Paper1967

Young Boy (unknown) Pastel on paper Bob Bruns 1951 Collection of William and Grace Scherer

Young Boy

Pastel on Paper1951

Collection of William and Grace Scherer

Mrs. Charles Daniel

Robert L. Bruns

Oil on Canvas 1953

Collection of Furman University

Mrs. Charles Daniel

December 14th, 2006: Mr. Bruns painted this portrait in 1953. I saw it for the first time today with another of his former students. Although the painting is over fifty years old, it is still in excellent condition.

Mr. Bruns passed away almost thirty years ago, but the work he left behind still teaches me. I had the privilege of seeing many of his works in progress- from blank canvases, to the skill of his quick straight line sight drawings in turpentine-thinned veridian, to the magic of his color application and creation of form.