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Modern British and Irish Art

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Lot 82^AR

William Gear R.A.
(British, 1915-1997)
Painting 61.3 x 91.8 cm. (24 1/8 x 36 1/8 in.)

Amended

12 June 2019, 15:00 BST

London, New Bond Street

Sold for £17,562.50 inc. premium

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William Gear R.A. (British, 1915-1997)

Painting
signed, titled and dated 'Gear/PAINTING/OCT '55' (verso)
oil on canvas
61.3 x 91.8 cm. (24 1/8 x 36 1/8 in.)

Footnotes

Provenance
With Abbott & Holder, circa 1968, where acquired by the present owner
Private Collection, U.K.

On the 21st February 1952, an exhibition by Paris based Russian painter Nicolas de Staël (1914-1955) opened at the Matthiesen Gallery, London to resounding critical acclaim. This exhibition, along with 'Ecole de Paris 1900-50' at the Royal Academy, dramatically proclaimed the arrival of contemporary French art to London. The de Staël exhibition especially had a major impact on many contemporary British artists including Roger Hilton, Patrick Heron, Terry Frost, Adrian Heath and Keith Vaughan, and proliferated the introduction of thickly applied tachist strokes in British art from the mid to late 1950s.

Having lived and worked in Paris between 1947 and 1950, William Gear was already familiar with de Staël's work, considering him one of the most vital artists of the day. Indeed, the two painters became acquaintances, exchanging studio visits and letters, with Gear advising de Staël regarding the staging of the Matthiesen exhibition. Gear's paintings of the late 1940s display some influence from de Staël in their construct and vibrancy. However, it is only following the shock of de Staël's suicide in March of 1955, that Gear's painting unabashedly celebrates his friend. As with the present prime example, in these works formal blocks of thickly applied paint mask touches of light (here cobalt, lemon and emerald) which shimmer through the gaps between forms of otherwise sombre tones.

Saleroom notices

Please note that this lot is further signed and dated recto 'Gear/55' (lower right)

Additional information

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