Frank Thomas Copnall, 1870 - 1949 Portrait of Sir John Lynn-thomas, K.b.e., C.b., C.m.g., F.r.c.s. 1861-1939

Frank Thomas Copnall, 1870 - 1949

Portrait of Sir John Lynn-Thomas, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., F.R.C.S. 1861-1939

signed and dated

oil on canvas

76.20 x 63.50 cm. (30 x 25 in.)

Sir JOHN LYNN-THOMAS , ( 1861 - 1939 ), surgeon ; b. 10 Sept. 1861 at Cwmgefeile , Llandysul, Cards. , the son of Evan Thomas , farmer . He studied medicineat the London Hospital ( M.R.C.S. 1886 , F.R.C.S. 1892 ). His essay on fractures of the skull was awarded the Hutchinson Prize , 1890 . He was elected assistant surgeon at Cardiff Royal Infirmary , 1895 , and promoted surgeon later. He became the first purely consulting surgeon in Wales . He developed excellent operating techniques and by travelling widely became familiar with the work of many prominent clinics abroad. As the disciple of Kocher of Berne he took particular interest inthyroid surgery . He devised his own operation for removal of prostate and invented a forceps tourniquet for haemorrhage-prevention in amputation of hip . He wrote numerous original papers and took a leading part in the surgical advances of his time. He was a pioneer of modern surgery in Wales ; he raised the standard of operative surgery at Cardiff Royal Infirmary and paved the way to its becoming the teaching hospital of the Welsh National School of Medicine .

He served with and ultimately commanded the Welsh Hospital in South Africa in the Boer War and was awarded the C.B. afterwards. In the first world war he wascolonel A.M.S. and Deputy Inspector of Military Orthopaedics, Western Command . He founded the Prince of Wales Hospital , Cardiff , for limbless sailors and soldiers ; this hospital was afterwards expanded to embrace other crippling disabilities, and was thus converted into an orthopaedic hospital . He was awarded the C.M.G. in1917 and became K.B.E. in 1919 .

In 1921 he retired to Llwyndyrus , Llechryd, Cards. , where he took an active interest in the Cardigan War Memorial Hospital . He was a J.P. and D.L. of Cardiganshireand served as high sheriff , 1907-8 . During his years at Llwyndyrus he became a very enthusiastic amateur archaeologist , eventually propounding theories in regard to the archaeological importance of the district between Llwyndyrus and Cardigan . Some of these theories were set forth by him in a book called The Key of All Wales . Much to his chagrin, however, his conclusions were not acceptable to professional archaeologists .

In 1892 he m. Mary Rosena , only daughter of Edward Jenkins , Cardiff . He d. at Llwyndyrus , 21 Sept. 1939 . (National Library of Wales)

Artist Biography

Frank Thomas Copnall was a turn-of-the-century and early twentieth century portraitist, who exhibited over 50 pictures – mainly portraits - at the Royal Academy, and 20 at the Royal Society of Arts, during a long and distinguished career. Born in the Isle of Wight, he settled in Hoylake in Cheshire and established a very successful studio in Liverpool, which was widely patronised by the wealthy merchant class of the city. Copnall became something of an artistic institution in Liverpool and rose to become President of both the Liver Sketching Club and the Liverpool Art Club. The family home was a hive of artistic activity: his wife, Theresa, was an exhibited artist in her own right and Frank’s nephew Edward, who came to work in the family business, became the well-known sculptor, Edward Bainbridge Copnall.

Copnall’s portraiture was faithful and accurate but could also be impressionistic and sketchy in the manner of Sargent, with bold dashes of colour. We have not managed to trace the pretty young female sitter, although her driving bonnet dates her to around 1916-20. Copnall’s work can be found in a variety of museums, galleries and institutions, from the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester to the Royal College of Surgeons and the Docks Museum.