Ivon Hitchens (British, 1893-1979)
Marsh Water
signed 'Hitchens' (lower left), further signed, inscribed and dated ''Marsh Water 1960''/by Ivon Hitchens/Greenleaves/Petworth Sussex' (on a label attached to the stretcher)
oil on canvas
44.5 x 109.5 cm. (17 1/2 x 43 in.)
signed 'Hitchens' (lower left), further signed, inscribed and dated ''Marsh Water 1960''/by Ivon Hitchens/Greenleaves/Petworth Sussex' (on a label attached to the stretcher)
oil on canvas
44.5 x 109.5 cm. (17 1/2 x 43 in.)
Sold for
£114,000
inc. premium
Footnotes
- PROVENANCE:
Sir Mortimer Wheeler
Thence by descent
Private Collection, U.K.
EXHIBITED:
London, Arts Council, Ivon Hitchens, A Retrospective Exhibition, 11 July - 20 October 1963, no.132, where lent by Sir Mortimer Wheeler; this exhibition travelled to London, Tate Gallery, Bradford, Bradford City Art Gallery and Birmingham, City Museum and Art Gallery
The present work enjoys interesting provenance, having previously been in the collection of Sir Mortimer Wheeler (1890-1976), one of Britain's pre-eminent archaeologists. At various points in his career, he held positions as Director of the National Museum of Wales and also keeper of the London Museum before being knighted in 1952.
Marsh Water was included in the famous Tate exhibition to mark Hitchens' 70th birthday which he himself considered to be "the truest mark of recognition" (Peter Khoroche, Ivon Hitchens, Andre Deutsch, London, 1990, p.100). The importance of the show so daunted the artist that he felt the need to escape to Ireland for a two week holiday immediately preceding the event. The 150 works displayed were well received by critics and the public, much to his relief and delight.
Category: Fine Art / Modern British and Irish Art
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