the london group · 5:15 p.m. june 11 : 1984 (with charcoal) / 1984 oil and charcoal on canvas / 41...
TRANSCRIPT
Th
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pThe St Ives Connection
The London GroupThe St Ives Connection
8–29 Sept 2018
Belgrave St Ives22 Fore Street, St IvesCornwall TR26 1HE
01736 794888
You can follow us onInstagram and Twitter: @belgravestives #artstives
32
History of The London Group
The London Group was formed by an amalgamation of the Camden
Town Group and the English Cubists (later Vorticists) in 1913. This
grouping of radical young artists came together as a reaction to the
stranglehold which the Royal Academy had on exhibiting new work.
Founder members included Spencer Gore, Wyndham Lewis, Sickert
and Epstein. The London Group decided on a written constitution
and a number of officers to run the Group’s affairs. Members were to
be elected to the Group based on a democratic election. A Working
Party was set up to organize London Group exhibitions which were
to revitalize contemporary visual art, bringing in new European
developments in painting and sculpture, especially from France.
Artists exhibited their own choice of work. The London Group made
no judgmental decisions on members’ work, a tradition proudly
defended to this day.
The beginning of the First World War and the early death of the first
President, Harold Gilman, were inauspicious moments for the new
group, yet it survived and, in the 1920s, developed into a progressive
and critically acclaimed venue for contemporary artists. Roger Fry
and the Bloomsbury set were extremely influential in the Group
during this decade.
The 1930s saw a greater diversity of activity. There was a healthy
exchange between the more objective Cézanne salon and the
Surrealists, for example. Again, the Group survived another World
War, managing to mount exhibitions throughout the early 1940s.
As Europe healed its wounds, The London Group was to enter into a
golden period in the 1950s and early 1960s. There were regular, afford-
able venues to hold annual exhibitions, large enough to offer space for
every member to show more than one work and to invite non-members
through open submission. The highlight of this period was The London
Group Jubilee Exhibition held at the Tate Gallery in 1964.
In the 1970s The London Group became the major vehicle for young
artists emerging from art school in the way the Young Contemporaries
was for art students. It held major open exhibitions across London
including the Royal College of Art, The South London Art Gallery and
Camden Art Centre. The nature of contemporary visual art and its
consumption began to change and diversify and this change was
reflected in the membership and exhibition strategies of the Group.
The last large ‘open show’ was launched by Lord Gowrie, the then
Minister for the Arts, and was also The London Group’s 80th Anniversary
Exhibition, held at the Concourse Gallery, Barbican in 1993. The 90th
Anniversary Exhibition in Cork Street saw the launch of The London
Group website and a commemorative yearbook published in 2003.
David Redfern (2013)
The London Group: A History 1913 – 2013
The London Group – The St Ives Connection
I was pleased to be asked by The London Group if I would like to arrange an exhibition of
work by earlier members, with an emphasis on artists having a strong St Ives association,
for example Barbara Hepworth, Patrick Heron and Terry Frost. This exhibition has been
planned to run concurrently with the exhibition of contemporary members organised
by The London Group at the Penwith Gallery, St Ives. The unique collaboration has also
given me the opportunity to include several artists selected from the rich history of
The London Group whose work has been represented in exhibitions of Modern British
Art at the Belgrave Gallery, London.
Artists rarely work in isolation, and throughout art history there has been an interaction
between contemporaries – ideas are bounced around stimulating individual artists to
take work in new directions. Artists have visited St Ives for over a hundred and fifty years,
St Ives-based artists have always travelled to London to see and to be included in major
exhibitions, and many St Ives artists trained or taught at art schools where the teachers
were often London Group Members. The history of Modern British Art can be traced
through the list of London Group members.
It is 20 years since Belgrave Gallery opened in St Ives, and almost 45 years since the
original gallery opened in Belgravia, London. The association with The London Group,
timed to coincide with the St Ives September Festival in the art-focused town of St Ives,
is a unique event to mark the occasion.
Michael Gaca
54
RoBERT ADAMS 1917–1984
Col (opus 341) / 1972
Bronze / 15 cm (H)
Brown with brown patina
Stamped with signature, dated
and numbered 2/6 under base
Provenance: Private Collection
FRAnk AuERBACH b.1931
Head of Julia / 2001
Etching / 23 x 25.5 cm (sheet)
Plate size: 11.5 x 14.5 cm
Printed by Mark Balakjian at Studio Prints,
London, produced in collaboration with
Marlborough Graphics, London, and
included in the limited edition of the book
‘Frank Auerbach: Paintings and Drawings
1954–2001’, which accompanied the
artist’s exhibition at the Royal Academy
of Arts, London
Both book and etching are signed
Edition 124/150
6 7
JoHn BARnICoAT 1924–2013
untitled / 1950
oil on canvas / 51 x 61 cm
Provenance: The Artist’s Estate
CRAIGIE AITCHISon 1926–2009
Daffodils and Candlestick / 1998
Screenprint / 49.5 x 38 cm
Signed
Edition 30/75
8
JoHn BRATBY 1928–1992
Royal Hill / 1978
Pastel / 37 x 54 cm
Signed, titled and dated
9
RoBERT BuHLER / 1916–1989
St. Didier, near Macon
oil on board / 42 x 55 cm
Signed and titled
Provenance: The Alma Gallery, Bristol
11
RICHARD CARLInE 1896–1980
untitled / 1966
Watercolour and pencil / 55 x 36.5 cm
Signed and dated
10
JEFFERY CAMP b.1923
Laetitia with Roses / 1966
oil on board / 41 x 41 cm (octagonal)
Titled and dated on label on reverse
Exhibited: The New Art Centre
12 13
ToM CRoSS 1931–2009
In a Window – Still Life / 1979
oil on canvas / 76 x 61 cm
Signed, titled and dated on reverse
ALAn DAVIE 1920–2014
Magic Picture no.1 / 1977
Lithograph / 55 x 74 cm
Printed by Curwen Studio,
London
Signed and dated
Edition 339/500
There is a copy of this work
in the Tate Collection
14
DEnnIS CREFFIELD 1931–2018
Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire / 2001
Charcoal on paper / 38 x 56.5 cm
Signed and dated
Provenance: Private Collection
15
JuLES DE GoEDE 1937–2007
untitled II / 2006
Collage / 14.5 x 20 cm
Signed and dated
17
AnTHonY FRY 1927–2016
untitled
oil on board / 39.5 x 37 cm
Signed
Provenance: The Estate of Joe and Mary Hope
Joe Hope was the former Head of Fine Art at
Bath Academy of Art, Corsham Court, 1968–1981
16
RonALD oSSoRY DunLoP
1894–1973
Boating on Thames, kingston
oil on canvas / 26 x 36 cm
Signed
19
DunCAn GRAnT 1885–1978
Washerwoman II / 1974
Lithograph / 74.5 x 43 cm (image)
77.5 x 57.5 cm (sheet)
Printed at the Curwen Studio and published
by Observer Art, London 1975
Signed
Edition of 350
There is a copy of this work in the Tate Collection
18
ELISABETH FRInk 1930–1993
Lying Down Horse (Wiseman 57) / 1972
Lithograph / 50 x 70 cm
Printed by Curwen Studio, London, published
by Leslie Waddington Prints Ltd.
Unsigned proof aside from the edition of 250
There is a copy of this work in the Tate Collection
21
TERRY FRoST
Three Graces / 1960
Acrylic and watercolour on paper
43 x 57.5 cm
Signed and dated
Provenance: Waddington Galleries
(as ‘Yellow Watercolour’)
Lady Joan Zuckerman
(bought from above)
Gillian Jason Gallery
20
TERRY FRoST 1915–2003
Brown Figure (kemp 25) / 1957
Lithograph / 42.5 x 56.5 cm
Signed and dated
Edition 14/30
Literature: Terry Frost Prints,
Dominic Kemp, 2010, illus. p25
22
BARBARA HEPWoRTH 1903–1975
Moon Landscape / 1973
Lithograph / 56 x 77 cm (sheet)
From the Penwith Portfolio, a
mixed portfolio of 11 lithographs in
aid of the Penwith Gallery, St Ives
Signed
Edition 57/90
23
BARBARA HEPWoRTH
olympus / 1971
Lithograph / 76.5 x 54.5 cm (image)
From ‘The Aegean Suite’
Printed by Curwen Studios, London
Signed
Edition 32/60
25
PATRICk HERon
untitled / 1950
Monoprint / 45 x 33 cm
Signed and dated
Provenance: Roger Mayne – acquired
direct from the artist in the 1960s
24
PATRICk HERon 1920–1999
5:15 p.m. June 11 : 1984
(with charcoal) / 1984
oil and charcoal on canvas / 41 x 51 cm
Signed, titled, dated and inscribed
on the reverse
Also titled on the canvas overlap
Exhibited: London, Barbican Art Gallery,
Patrick Heron, 11 July – 1 September 1985,
cat. no.64
Provenance: Waddington Galleries, London
26
ADRIAn HEATH 1920–1992
Black and Lemon Abstract / 1960
oil on canvas / 104 x 91 cm
Signed and dated
Also signed and dated February ‘60 on reverse
Further titled and dated on the canvas overlap
Provenance: Private Collection
27
JoSEF HERMAn 1911–2000
Tree I
Coloured inks on paper / 19 x 24 cm
Signed and titled on reverse
29
JACoB kRAMER 1892–1962
Mother and Child / 1922
Watercolour / 40 x 28.5 cm
Signed, dated and inscribed
‘To Sir Michael Sadler from Jacob Kramer’
Sir Michael Sadler was Vice Chancellor of the
University of Leeds between 1911–1923 and he
became one of the leading figures promoting
Modern Art between the two world wars. Sadler
was collecting Kramer’s work from around 1912
when the artist was only 20, and Kramer was
also making gifts to him (as here).
28
DAVID HAuGHTon 1924–1991
untitled (St Just Drawing)
Pencil on paper / 27 x 35.5 cm
Signed
This drawing is from a portfolio of
drawings salvaged from a studio
fire in 1981 that destroyed much
or the artist’s work
30
ELLIoTT SEABRookE 1886–1950
untitled
oil on board / 32 x 27 cm
Signed with initials
31
RoBERT MEDLEY 1905–1994
Fire Drill / c1940
oil on canvas / 43 x 61 cm
The subject matter of this painting
relates closely to Medley's painting
'Testing Trailer Pumps, St.Peter's,
Newcastle' of 1940, which is held
in the collection of the Laing Art
Gallery, Newcastle
Provenance: The Artist’s Family
33
BRIAn FIELDInG 1933–1987
Rar 6 / 1982
Silkscreen / 76.5 x 53 cm
Signed, titled and dated
Edition 1/10
32
ALBERT IRVIn 1922–2015
untitled, 2002
Screenprint / 15 x 21 cm
Published by Advanced Graphics,
London 2002
Signed and dated
Proceeds from the sale of this
work will be donated to charity
35
HEnRY MooRE 1898–1986
Two Seated Figures against Pillar / 1976
Lithograph / 13.5 x 22.5 cm (image)
From the ‘Henry Moore 80th Anniversary
Portfolio’ published by Orde Levinson, 1978
Printed at the Curwen Studio, London
Signed
Edition 16/50
Provenance: William Weston Gallery
34
BERnARD MEADoWS 1915–2005
Drawing for Sculpture 11 / 1977
Watercolour and pencil / 12 x 18 cm
Signed
Provenance: Taranman Gallery, 1977,
one-man exhibition, no.8; Private collection, UK
Literature: ‘Bernard Meadows’,
A. Bowness, Lund Humphries, pl.104
36
JoHn PIPER 1903–1992
San Moise, Venice (Levinson 119) / 1961
Lithograph / 73 x 53.5 cm
Published by the Curt Valentin Gallery
Signed
Edition 21/50
37
PAuL nASH 1889–1946
Shell Poster / 1969
Poster / 50 x 76 cm
1969 reprint of No.361 (1932) original, artwork by Paul Nash
Printed by W.R. Royale & Son Ltd., London
Literature: The Shell Poster Book, page 45
39
VICToR PASMoRE 1908–1998
Composite Image:
orange and Pink / 1984
Silkscreen / 61.5 x 74.5 cm (sheet)
Published by Marlborough Fine Art
Signed and dated
Edition 8/70
38
WILLIAM SCoTT 1913–1989
Still Life With Frying Pan / 1973
Screenprint / 67.5 x 89 cm
Printed at Kelpra Studio and
published by CCA Galleries,
London 1973
Signed and dated
Edition 185/250
40
GRAHAM SuTHERLAnD 1903–1980
Insect / 1963
Lithograph / 65 x 50 cm (image)
Signed and dated
Edition 1/65
Edition Galerie Wolfgang Ketterer, Munchen
41
PHILLIP SuTTon b.1928
Great Australian Bight / 1966
Screenprint / 50 x 51 cm (image)
Sheet size: 57.5 x 78.5 cm
Printed at Curwen Studio, London
Signed
Edition 118/250
There is a copy of this print
in the Tate Collection
42
kEITH VAuGHAn 1912–1977
Figures in a Village / c1952
Pencil / 9 x 13.5 cm
Studio stamp
Provenance: Private Collection
43
EDWARD WoLFE 1897–1982
nude Studies / c1950
Pencil on paper / 40 x 33 cm
Provenance: The Bloomsbury Workshop
44
GARY WRAGG b.1946
orange Shape / 1981
Mixed media on paper / 57 x 43.5 cm
Provenance: Mr. R. B. Russell
Note. This painting was offered as a raffle prize for
Camberwell Residential Academic and Fellowship
Trust in December 1982. The painting comes with
the original winning ticket along with a letter
informing the former owner of his win, signed by
the principal Ian Tregarthen Jenkin.
Robert Adams / 1949
Craigie Aitchison / 1962
Frank Auerbach / 1960
John Barnicoat / 1978
John Bratby / 1978
Robert Buhler / 1949
Jeffery Camp / 1961
Richard Carline / 1921
Dennis Creffield / 1962
Tom Cross / 1978
Alan Davie / 1957
Jules de Goede / 1996
Ronald ossory Dunlop / 1931
Brian Fielding / 1968
Elisabeth Frink / 1956
Terry Frost / 1957
Anthony Fry / 1955
Duncan Grant / 1913
David Haughton / 1975
Adrian Heath / 1962
Barbara Hepworth / 1930
Josef Herman / 1953
Patrick Heron / 1952
Albert Irvin / 1965
Jacob kramer / 1914
Bernard Meadows / 1951
Robert Medley / 1937
Henry Moore / 1930
Paul nash / 1914
Victor Pasmore / 1934
John Piper / 1933
William Scott / 1949
Elliott Seabrooke / 1920
Graham Sutherland / 1937
Phillip Sutton / 1956
keith Vaughan / 1949
Edward Wolfe / 1923
Gary Wragg / 1990
Election dates of London Group members