Alfred Wallis (1855-1942), retired mariner and self-taught artist, is much celebrated for his naïve paintings that reflect his direct experience of the sea and fishing communities in Cornwall. Painting solely for his own enjoyment, Wallis was discovered in 1928 by founding members of the St. Ives School, Ben Nicholson (second husband of Barbara Hepworth) and Christopher Wood.
Two works by Wallis are coming up for sale in the Modern and Contemporary Art Sale at Tennants Auctioneers on 14th June, Sailboats and Fish (estimate: £15,000-20,000 all figures exclude buyer’s premium) and Steamboats and Lighthouse (estimate: £8,000-12,000). Both works were purchased by the vendor’s grandmother directly from the artist. In the winter of 1941-2, the vendor’s grandparents had moved to Carbis Bay, just east of St. Ives, close to the home of their great friends Naum Garbo, the highly influential Russian avant-garde sculptor, and his wife Miriam. Through the Garbo’s they met some of the key St. Ives School artists such as Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, and Alfred Wallis, by then a near-destitute old man. In order to help him, and because they liked his work, they purchased several of his paintings.
Leading a strong outing for Northern Art are three works by Helen Bradley. At the age of 65, having dedicated her adult life to raising a family, Helen Layfield Bradley (1900-1979) reinvented herself as an internationally acclaimed artist. Using a soft yet colourful palette and simple two-dimensional figures, she illustrated short narrative accounts based on early childhood memories of growing up in the Edwardian era to show her grandchildren just how different the world was when she was a child. On offer in the sale are “Snowing in Lanchester”, “Lees Brook” and “House for Sale”, which carry estimates of £15,000-20,000 each. Further interesting works by Northern artist include a selection of paintings by Brian ‘Braaq’ Shields (1951-1997) including Figures and Dogs Before a Mill Town (estimate: £3,000-5,000), Winter Wash Day by Peter Brook (1927-2009) (estimate: £3,000-5,000), “Catherine” by Norman Cornish (1919-2014) (estimate: £2,000-3,000), “Galloping Horse” by Sally Arnup (1930-2015) (estimate: £4,000-6,000) and works by Wigan artist Theodore Major.
Three works by the interesting early 20th century British female artist Madeline Green (1884-1947) are also on offer; At the Races (estimate: £2,000-3,000), The Couple (estimate: £2,000-3,000), and Study of a Lady (£250-350). Working at a time of significant social change, with shifting perceptions of gender roles, Green and her circle of sitters were concerned with the place of the female artist and her work explores the theme of identity. She used both herself and her close family members as sitters, in the case of the present works her sister, who is presented in more masculine dress, although it is impossible to say if this was out of necessity or a comment on gender roles.
“Diptychon”, a homemade print made by David Hockney (b.1937) in 1989 is one of the highlights of a collection of works from a deceased estate in London. With provenance from Gilden’s Arts Gallery in London, the print is offered with an estimate of £5,000-7,000. Further notable works from the collection include two sculptures; “Ace of Diamonds” by Lynn Chadwick (1914-2003) (estimate: £3,000-5,000), and “Mouton Sun” from 1963 by Kenneth Armitage (1916-2002) (estimate: £2,500-4,000).
A wide range of prints by leading British artists are also on offer, with examples by Henry Moore, Paul Nash, Patrick Procktor, David Hockney and Howard Hodgkin.
View Sale
