Paintings — 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 He painted mysterious unpopulated landscapes, brooding portraits and the unpublished "marionette" works, which were only found after his death.
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.