Lot 344 - John Bratby, Small Daffodil III – as we approach the end of what feels like a very long winter period and begin to look towards the spring, I had to choose this Bratby as one of my top five picks. The subject of the work is a joyous emblem of the renewal associated with springtime and is complemented by the bright palette and expressive, vital brushstrokes.
Lot 432 - Karólína Lárusdóttir, The Woman Who Married The Ambitious Man – though more are appearing, it is relatively unusual to find a Lárusdóttir oil in our rooms, so I am delighted to be able to spend some time with this work! As is typical with Lárusdóttir’s works, this painting demonstrates a strong narrative element through the title and composition, inviting the viewer into the artist’s dreamlike world of humour and whimsy.
Lot 411 - Pádraig MacMiàdhachain, North African Landscape – like my previous picks, I love this work for its sheer joy and exuberance! In contrast with his equally successful, though pared down, representations of Cornwall, this work demonstrates the vibrancy and the spirit of the Amazigh culture through the artist’s exquisite use of colour and cultural symbols, such as the ‘Free Man’ or ‘Yaz’ observed on the right-hand side of the image.
Lot 316 - Laurence Stephen Lowry, Study for 'The Beach at Roker' – as a study for a fully worked oil, this drawing offers a fascinating insight into the artist’s working practice. Knowing that this location was a favourite of Lowry’s, I find it very moving to think of him working away, looking out towards the North Sea, at the Seaburn Hotel, which is now the Sunderland Marriott.
Lot 330 - 20th Century British School, Study of a female nude – My final pick is this superb drawing of a female nude in profile. I love the economy of line and the powerful, but restrained, use of colour in this work. Through just a few lines, the artist has created a striking and beautifully observed work.
To view the catalogue for The Art & Design Sale on 27th February, please click here