Henry Scott Tuke artist

Posted on 26/03/2023 by ronald972

We travel to Cornwall to visit with artist #HenryScottTuke (1858-1929). Tuke was primarily an impressionist painter, both in oil and watercolour, as well as a photographer. He is best known for his paintings of nude boys and young men but there is little sexual tension in those representations and genitals were almost never displayed. Tuke trained at the Slade School of Art under the tutelage of Alphonse Legros and Sir Edward Poynter. He became a member of the #NewlynSchool. Tuke employed rash/rough brush strokes and a broad and vibrant colour palette. He loved to paint outdoors and was a master at the depiction of the effect of light on the objects it touched.

Tuke painted portraits, still lifes, landscapes and was also a fine marine painter of ships in full sail. Tuke had an interesting habit of putting different heads on the bodies he painted making it difficult to say who sat for what picture. Tuke was successful which allowed him to travel extensively but mainly to France, Italy and the West Indies.

Flowers in a Basket with Ribbons – watercolour initialled HST (Henry Scott Tuke?) date unknown

The above watercolour is initialled HST just beneath the base of the basket. I believe for Henry Scott Tuke. He was not known for still lifes but did create several of them. This one is created using the rough/free brush technique he was known for and the varied/fresh colour palette. A nice piece although somewhat atypical.

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Sybil Blunt artist

Posted on 19/03/2023 by ronald972

Today, we travel to Winchester to visit with artist #SybilBlunt (1880-1952). Few would have heard of her, but we can look back and admire her achievements. Sybil Blunt was a painter, a watercolourist, an engraver, and a draughtswoman. We most likely have never seen any of her works but we can see, possibly, her greatest and most admired work.

After the war, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes asked Sybil Blunt to design a commemorative work to celebrate the work done by women during the war. Every county in England and Wales was asked to stitch a section of the tapestry. Over 400 women were involved with the production of these pieces. As the 15 sections were finished; from across the country they were sent to Winchester to be assembled into a whole. This was completed in October 1952, some 9 months prior to Sybil Blunts’ passing. This epic and historically important work can now, still be seen at the #ImperialWarMuseum in London.

The Close, Winchester Cathedral – watercolour by Sybil Blunt @ 1932

I have one piece by Sybil Blunt in my collection. A fine view of Winchester Cathedral’s Close created in 1932. A beautiful tribute to a fine artist.

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Neil Cox artist

Posted on 12/03/2023 by ronald972

As with last week’s artist, we visit another painter of avian life. #NeilCox (1955- ) was born in London and loved to draw from his youth. He read law at university but turned to his first love to pursue a career as an avian/wildlife painter.

Great Tits – watercolour by Neil Cox

His formative years were influenced by artists such as #ArchibaldThorburn and #RobertBateman. Neil works in either oils or watercolours. From looking at his work, one would be surprised to learn that Neil is totally self-taught.

Blue Tits – watercolour by Neil Cox

I have two pieces by Neil Cox in my collection. Both are beautifully painted and display a pair of birds in each work. A wonderful combination of colour and exactness of execution produce a vivid and vibrant presentation of real life.

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Priscilla Barrett artist

Posted on 04/03/2023 by ronald972

Today, we look at a local artist whose speciality was the portrayal of mammals. #PriscillaBarrett (Prill)(1944-2021) was born in Cape Town. From her youth, she was a lover of the natural world and the animals that inhabit it. She graduated from Cape Town University, married, and in 1969, moved to Cambridge, England. Both she and her husband worked at Cambridge University’s sub-department of Animal Behaviour at Madingley. Here, her skill at illustration was nutured and matured. She started with illustrating colleagues’ papers and articles, but this quickly developed to the illustration of books.

Crested Servaline Genet – drawing/watercolour by Priscilla Barrett

Prill was the main artist for the Encyclopaedia of Mammals, the only artist for Harper Collins Guide to European Mammals and its companion European Mammals. Three huge endeavours and yet only 3 from a long list of works, which she illustrated. She truly was a master of illustration. Wonderfully combining accuracy in detail, palette, and expression to bring forth a beauty to rival reality.

From my collection comes the sumptuous portrayal of the Crested Genet.

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An unsigned drawing

Posted on 26/02/2023 by ronald972

This past week, I picked up a small drawing titled ‘The Happy Child’. It is done in pencil/graphite. I think the child portrayed is meant to be #Cupid. We can see the end of his bow showing from under his robe. He reclines leaning on one arm, while in his other hand is a doll with which he is playing. The idea of Loves’ playing with mankind might be what is being displayed here.

Cupid with toy – graphite drawing 18c/19c

The drawing in an #Italianate style is rendered superbly, with excellent toning/shading. Being unsigned, I can not attribute it to any artist, but the paper informs me that it is certainly 19c if not 18c. The child appears to hold a ‘Punch’ doll from Punch and Judy. The earliest that these stories appeared in England was 1662. Punch is based on the 16th century Italian ‘commedia dell’arte‘ Neapolitan character of Pulcinella – anglicised to #Punchinello.

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Hand written

Posted on 19/02/2023 by ronald972

Every once and a while I come across a hand written note book, diary, autograph book  or recipe/cook book and today I would like to look at one such item.

The autograph book contains a number of drawings which are done by several different people along with messages for a young miss by name of Mary Davies. The dates on these items all come from around 1917 to 1919 but it is the very first item in this book which will possibly be of most interest.

Thistledown Fairies drawn by W L Munt @ 1917

The best drawing is the image of the #ThistledownFairies. Copied in 1917 from the Alfred Ernest Walter George Aris original which was published in “Blackie’s Children’s Annual”

War time advertisement – drawn by N Munt

We move to a variation of a wartime ad for frugality. Ithink it is quite cheeky thinking that dad might even remotely be ok with the idea. Once again a nicely executed drawing with a twist.

Finally, we come to the first item in the booklet. A salutation in rhyme each line beginning with the letters of her name.

Salutation/dedication to Mary Davies by RCB

This salutation/dedication is the best poetry in the booklet. To my reading it is well thought out and reads very well but it is the author’s initials which are to me the thing which raises an interesting idea. This being on the first page and undated might mean that it was written earlier than 1917. If so, I might venture a guess (or hope) of it being prior to 1915. If this were the case, the initials for the author become very intriguing for they might be those of #RupertChawnerBrooke (1887-1915) a British wartime poet. But so far I have not been able to tie Mary to Rupert in any solid/factual way. So, maybe I will just remain in hopefulness.

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A Musical Opportunity

Posted on 12/02/2023 by ronald972

Today, I thought I would wander into town and visit a couple of charity shops to see what I might find. I am always pleased when I find things relating to Ely Cathedral. Well, today, I found two part-books of music; not vocal but instrumental. They are for the viola and the violoncello. Volumes 9 and 10 of some set. Each book contains music by the composers Joseph Haydn, Charles Avison, Antonio Kammell, and Gasparo Fritz.

Instrumental part for Three Quartets by Joseph Haydn

The #Haydn quartets are from Opus 76. They were originally published in 1799. I have the parts for the first three trios; “1 – The Jack-in-the-box, 2 – Fifths, and 3 – Emporer. The watermark on the copies I have reads 1819. They were published by #MuzioClementi at 26 Cheapside, London.

Part book for Twelve Concertos in quartet by Charles Avison

The next composer is #CharlesAvison, a Newcastle upon Tyne. The books contain the instrument parts for concertos 7 to 12, opus 9; written in 1766. The watermarks show that these are possible a first edition.

Divertimento for quartet by Antonio Kammell

The third composer is #AntonioKammell (1730-1784). He was a close friend of JC Bach. There are no watermarks on this hand-made paper, so, I can only guess that it might be a possible first edition. The paper itself is interesting. It has an odd colour when held to the light and no chain lines.

Sei Sonatefor 4 instruments by Gasparo Fritz @ 1742

Our last composer is #GasparoFritz (1716-1783) and his set of 6 sonatas. Once again, the watermark tells me these are a very early imprint, most likely corresponding with the 1742 publishing date.

Annotation from sonata # 6

I finish with an image of the notation from sonata # 6. Hope you enjoy.

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Artist Ben Ripper

Posted on 05/02/2023 by ronald972

We are going down the road to nearby Swaffham in Norfolk to visit with artist #BenRipper. Swaffham was made famous in the Stephen Fry television series ‘Kingdom’. Ben was a local character. Ben was, of course, artist, as well as local historian and, finally, gents’ barber. His shop window regularly displayed his artwork.

Market Cross, Swaffham, Norfolk – ink drawing with wash by Ben Ripper

I have one artwork by Ben Ripper in my collection. It shows the market cross in Swaffham town center. Nicely executed,Ben has a fine eye for proportions and architecture. An image from a bygone time beautifully rendered.

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Zofia Matuszczyk-Cygańska artist

Posted on 17/12/2022 by ronald972

A couple of years ago, I picked up a type of artwork that I do not come across very often and which I know almost nothing about. I can not weave, although, in my university years, I did dabble in crewel work to relax. The artist #ZofiaMatuszczyk-Cygańska (1915-2011) is a Polish artist more known now for her painting than her weaving. Originally studying mathematics, she decided that art was her desired vocation. She studied at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts under Edward Kokoszka. After the war, she studied with Felicjan Kowarski.

Written onto linen backing – verso

Also, after the war, she worked for the LAD cooperative designing fabrics, some of which adorn the Palace of Culture and Science, the Grand Hotel, and the National Philharmonic. From the 1950s, she started creating abstract paintings composed of small square swatches of colour. A mosaic, in fact, almost pointillist in effect. Her paintings resemble the tapestry style where she began her career.

Zofia Matuszczyk-Cygańska weaving

This piece hangs above the headboard in my master bedroom. It has warmth, depth, motion, and a use of colours which exudes life and the passing of time.

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Two Modern Artists

Posted on 04/12/2022 by ronald972

I am not always a fan of modern art. I find some pieces as not thought through or show little effort has been put into them. Both the artists, today, show that less can be more when it comes to art.

We will start with #PeterHedegaard (1929-2008) who was a London based artist. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark but moved to London in 1935 with his parents. He studied at Charterhouse and Hertford College, Oxford. He studied design at the Bartlett School of Architecture. He worked only for a short time before becoming a professional artist. He was the painter – his wife, Isolde, taught herself screen printing so that they could publish/print copies of Peters’ work. They produced 2 or 3 screenprint editions per year.

Circle with Wave – green, blue, and mauve 7/10 by Peter Hedegaard @ 1965

In my collection is “Circle with wave, green, blue, and mauve”. It comes from early in Hedegaards’ career, 1965, and is #7 from a print run of 10. A simple combination of line, colour, and shape create a very fine work. A fine example of the geometrical work which Hedegaard was known for.

Our second artist is #FredIngrams. After his early studies, Fred became a painter. He lived in Soho above the Coach and Horses Pub. Over the years he also worked as a graphic artist for a number of publications which include The Times, The Field, Tattler, Vogue and House and Garden. In 1998, he moved to Norfolk where he paints both nudes and landscapes from life. The engraving from my collection was created in 1989. It is simply called ‘Nude’ and is #15 of 50.

Nude 15/50 – engraving by Fred Ingrams @ 1989
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