An early work by Alfred Munnings depicting Romani life at Norwich’s historic Tombland Fair is expected to sell for £20,000-30,000 when it comes up for auction in the British, European and Sporting Art Sale at Tennants Auctioneers on 15th November (all figures exclude buyer’s premium).
Sir Alfred Munnings (1878-1959) grew up in the deeply rural Waveney Valley in Suffolk, and his childhood was spent sketching the working horses around the family mill. At the age of 14 he left school to take up an apprenticeship with a printers in Norwich whilst taking evening classes at Norwich School of Art. Going on to set up his own studio, the opening decade of the 20th century saw him established himself as an artist painting in rural East Anglia, documenting the countryside and country life, sketching travellers, working horses and the local society in his characteristic impressionistic manner, filled with colour and light. It was only after the First World War that he went on to concentrate on painting horses, becoming the most celebrated equestrian artist of the 20th century.
During the early years of his career, one of his favourite subjects was the Romani people who ran travelling fairs in the area, becoming well acquainted with several families, having been captivated by the vibrance, colour and ruggedness of the people and caravans. Tombland Fair was a centuries old institution held each Easter in Norwich, a vibrant mix of games, horse sales and market stalls where Romani families would have been integral to proceedings. In the present work, Munnings gives us a glimpse of their domestic life, with a meal being prepared before the steps of parked caravans on a cold, grey day. It is likely that Munnings would have painted the work en plein air at the Fair. In later years, Munnings lamented missing his earlier days amongst the Romani, sharing simple suppers of sausages cooked outside their caravans.
The painting now up for sale has passed down by descent from Mr and Mrs James Alston of Uphall, and according to the accompanying presentation plaque was given to the couple in 1950 in appreciation of their help and advice given to the Scots settled in East Anglia. The painting will be available to view at Tennants Auctioneers, North Yorkshire, ahead of the sale alongside a good offering of ornithological works by Archibald Thorburn, a rare early 19th century depiction of a boxing match, and a host of interesting works dating from the 17th to the mid-20th century.
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