Painting — Modern British Day Auction
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 He painted mysterious unpopulated landscapes, brooding portraits and the unpublished "marionette" works, which were only found after his death.
Bridget Louise Riley, an eminent English painter, has captivated the art world with her pioneering contributions to the Op Art movement. Born in London in 1931, Riley's early works were characterized by a figurative, semi-impressionist style. However, her artistic trajectory took a significant turn in the late 1950s and early 1960s when she began experimenting with optical illusions, leading to the development of her signature Op Art style. These works, utilizing geometric patterns in black and white, explored the dynamics of perception, creating disorienting effects and sensations of movement or color in the viewer.
Riley's exploration into color, which commenced in 1967, marked a new phase in her career. Her visit to Egypt in the early 1980s further enriched her palette, leading to the creation of works that reflected the vibrant hues of the Egyptian landscape. This period also saw the introduction of her 'Egyptian palette', which captured both the spirit of ancient and modern Egypt. Notable among her colorful works is "Cataract 3", where Riley utilized the contrast between warm and cold colors to produce a shifting, dynamic effect on the canvas, a testament to her continuous exploration of the interaction between form, color, and human perception.
Riley's work extends beyond canvas, with significant contributions to public art through murals. Her installations at prestigious institutions like the Tate, the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, and the National Gallery, as well as a large-scale mural for the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, demonstrate her versatility and commitment to engaging with a broader public audience.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Riley's work represents a fascinating intersection of art, science, and perception, offering a unique visual experience that challenges and delights. Her dedication to expanding the boundaries of visual art ensures her place as a central figure in contemporary art discourse.
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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.
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.
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.
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.