Paintings — Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale
Gwendolen Mary John, or Gwen John, was a Welsh post-Impressionist painter who spent most of her life working in France. Her drawings number in the thousands. Most of Gwen John's paintings depict figures (usually girls or nuns) in interiors, painted with great sensitivity and unobtrusive dignity. The artist also left many images of cats.
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Richard William Hamilton was a pivotal figure in the evolution of modern art, seamlessly blending traditional mediums with emerging cultural commentary. Born in London in 1922, Hamilton emerged as a leading voice in the pop art movement, a genre that sought to bridge the gap between high art and popular culture. His work, characterized by its innovative use of materials and its critical eye on consumer society, positioned him as a critical link between art's past and its rapidly evolving future.
Hamilton's influence is perhaps best encapsulated in his iconic collage, "Just what is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing?" Created for the This Is Tomorrow exhibition in 1956, this piece is widely regarded as one of the first works of pop art, predating the more widely recognized contributions of American artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. By integrating images from magazines, advertisements, and other mass media, Hamilton crafted a visually striking critique of contemporary consumerism and its pervasive impact on the domestic sphere.
Beyond his contributions to pop art, Hamilton's legacy is also preserved in his role as an educator and theorist. His writings and teachings have influenced generations of artists, encouraging them to explore the intersections of art, technology, and society. His works are held in high esteem and are featured in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Tate Gallery in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Hamilton's oeuvre offers a fascinating window into the mid-20th century's cultural shifts. His ability to capture the zeitgeist of his time, while also pushing the boundaries of what art could be, makes his work both historically significant and continually relevant.
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Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a British statesman, soldier and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955. Apart from two years between 1922 and 1924, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1900 to 1964 and represented a total of five constituencies. Ideologically an economic liberal and imperialist, he was for most of his career a member of the Conservative Party, which he led from 1940 to 1955. He was a member of the Liberal Party from 1904 to 1924.
Laurence Stephen Lowry was an English artist. His drawings and paintings mainly depict Pendlebury, Lancashire (where he lived and worked for more than 40 years) as well as Salford and its vicinity.
Lowry is famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial districts of North West England in the mid-20th century. He developed a distinctive style of painting and is best known for his urban landscapes peopled with human figures, often referred to as "matchstick men". He painted mysterious unpopulated landscapes, brooding portraits and the unpublished "marionette" works, which were only found after his death.
Ben Nicholson, an English artist, is celebrated for his significant contributions to abstract art. Born into an artistic family, Nicholson's work evolved from figurative art to embrace and lead in the development of abstract art in Britain. His early career was marked by experimentation with Cubism and interaction with influential artists like Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Piet Mondrian, and Pablo Picasso, which profoundly shaped his artistic direction.
Nicholson's art is notable for its sensitive balance of tone and texture, employing dynamic and rhythmic lines that abstractly reference architectural forms and societal structures. His technique involved meticulous carving, painting, and the innovative use of color, especially in his later works where he explored the interplay of light and form to create poetic, abstract landscapes. His contributions were not just confined to his own practice; through collaborative projects and influential writings, he played a pivotal role in the discourse of modernist art, advocating for abstract art's broader appreciation.
Noteworthy pieces of Nicholson's work, including "March 1963 (Archimedes)" and "June 1961 (green goblet and blue square)," among others, are housed in prestigious collections like the Tate Gallery, Tate St Ives, Kettle's Yard Art Gallery in Cambridge, The Hepworth Wakefield, Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, and the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Orkney.
Nicholson's legacy as a pioneer of abstract art in the UK is secured through his innovative approaches and influential partnerships, which have left an indelible mark on the landscape of 20th-century art. His work continues to inspire and resonate, reflecting a deep understanding of the abstract's power to express the complexities of human experience and the natural world.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques interested in the pivotal movements of 20th-century art, Ben Nicholson's oeuvre offers a rich field of study and appreciation. To stay updated on new product sales and auction events related to Ben Nicholson's work, signing up for updates is a step towards deepening your understanding and appreciation of this key figure in modernist art.
George Peter Lanyon was a British painter of landscapes leaning heavily towards abstraction. Lanyon was one of the most important artists to emerge in post-war Britain. Despite his early death at the age of forty-six he achieved a body of work that is amongst the most original and important reappraisals of modernism in painting to be found anywhere. Combining abstract values with radical ideas about landscape and the figure, Lanyon navigated a course from Constructivism through Abstract Expressionism to a style close to Pop. He also made constructions, pottery and collage.
Patrick Heron was a British abstract and figurative artist, critic, writer, and polemicist, who lived in Zennor, Cornwall.
Heron was recognised as one of the leading painters of his generation. Influenced by Cézanne, Matisse, Braque and Bonnard, Heron made a significant contribution to the dissemination of modernist ideas of painting through his critical writing and primarily his art.
Heron's artworks are most noted for his exploration and use of colour and light. He is known for both his early figurative work and non-figurative works, which over the years looked to explore further the idea of making all areas of the painting of equal importance. His work was exhibited widely throughout his career and while he wrote regularly early in his career, notably for New Statesman and Arts New York, this continued periodically in later years.
Barbara Hepworth was an English artist and sculptor. Her work exemplifies Modernism and in particular modern sculpture. Along with artists such as Ben Nicholson and Naum Gabo, Hepworth was a leading figure in the colony of artists who resided in St Ives during the Second World War.
Laurence Stephen Lowry was an English artist. His drawings and paintings mainly depict Pendlebury, Lancashire (where he lived and worked for more than 40 years) as well as Salford and its vicinity.
Lowry is famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial districts of North West England in the mid-20th century. He developed a distinctive style of painting and is best known for his urban landscapes peopled with human figures, often referred to as "matchstick men". He painted mysterious unpopulated landscapes, brooding portraits and the unpublished "marionette" works, which were only found after his death.
Ben Nicholson, an English artist, is celebrated for his significant contributions to abstract art. Born into an artistic family, Nicholson's work evolved from figurative art to embrace and lead in the development of abstract art in Britain. His early career was marked by experimentation with Cubism and interaction with influential artists like Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Piet Mondrian, and Pablo Picasso, which profoundly shaped his artistic direction.
Nicholson's art is notable for its sensitive balance of tone and texture, employing dynamic and rhythmic lines that abstractly reference architectural forms and societal structures. His technique involved meticulous carving, painting, and the innovative use of color, especially in his later works where he explored the interplay of light and form to create poetic, abstract landscapes. His contributions were not just confined to his own practice; through collaborative projects and influential writings, he played a pivotal role in the discourse of modernist art, advocating for abstract art's broader appreciation.
Noteworthy pieces of Nicholson's work, including "March 1963 (Archimedes)" and "June 1961 (green goblet and blue square)," among others, are housed in prestigious collections like the Tate Gallery, Tate St Ives, Kettle's Yard Art Gallery in Cambridge, The Hepworth Wakefield, Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, and the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Orkney.
Nicholson's legacy as a pioneer of abstract art in the UK is secured through his innovative approaches and influential partnerships, which have left an indelible mark on the landscape of 20th-century art. His work continues to inspire and resonate, reflecting a deep understanding of the abstract's power to express the complexities of human experience and the natural world.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques interested in the pivotal movements of 20th-century art, Ben Nicholson's oeuvre offers a rich field of study and appreciation. To stay updated on new product sales and auction events related to Ben Nicholson's work, signing up for updates is a step towards deepening your understanding and appreciation of this key figure in modernist art.
Patrick Caulfield was an English painter and printmaker renowned for his distinct approach to art, which often combined elements of photorealism within simplified scenes. Born in London in 1936, Caulfield's artistic journey led him to become a significant figure associated with the British Pop Art movement, though he personally refuted this label, aligning more closely with early European Modernist traditions. His works are celebrated for their bold canvases, characterized by sleek lines, bold colors, and an intriguing blend of the real and the abstract, held in esteemed collections worldwide, including those of Charles Saatchi and David Bowie.
Caulfield's art is recognized for its innovative use of light, space, and color, creating a unique narrative that transcends the conventional boundaries of painting. Noteworthy pieces like "Pony" (1964) and "After Lunch" (1975) exemplify his skill in blending painting styles, creating "pictures within pictures" that challenge viewers' perceptions of space and reality. Caulfield's interiors, such as "Dining Recess" (1972) and "Tandoori Restaurant" (1971), convey a sense of melancholy and loneliness through their depiction of everyday spaces devoid of human presence, making his work profoundly resonant.
Throughout his career, Caulfield received several commissions, contributing to public spaces and collections across the globe. His art has been exhibited in numerous solo exhibitions, including at Tate Britain and the Royal Academy in London, underscoring his influence and importance in the art world.
For art collectors and experts, Patrick Caulfield's work offers a unique perspective on the everyday, merging the abstract with the real in ways that continue to captivate and intrigue. To stay updated on sales and auction events related to Patrick Caulfield's art, signing up for updates is highly recommended, ensuring access to the latest offerings and insights into his enduring legacy.
Ivon Hitchens was an English painter who started exhibiting during the 1920s. He became part of the 'London Group' of artists and exhibited with them during the 1930s. His house was bombed in 1940 during World War II. Hitchens and his family abandoned London for the Sussex countryside, where he acquired a small area of woodland on Lavington Common (near Petworth), and lived there in a caravan, which he gradually augmented with a series of buildings. It was here that the artist further developed his fascination with the woodland subject matter, and this pre-occupation continued until the artist’s death in 1979.
William Nicholson was a British painter of still-life, landscape and portraits. He also worked as a printmaker in techniques including woodcut, wood-engraving and lithography, as an illustrator, as an author of children's books and as a designer for the theatre.