One of several portraits of the composer painted by Kelly at the end of his life. Vaughan Williams was influenced by by British Folk music in many of his pieces, including The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis - featured in the film Master and Commander, and Dives and Lazarus.
Oh man, this guy wrote a lot of hymns, many of my favorites! They’re singable and tuneful. I’ve seen his name so many times, and wondered about him. I learned he was Welsh, given his evident love of Welsh folk tunes and his last name.