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Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E (Nigerian, 1917-1994) Village near Akure, en route Benin image 1
Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E (Nigerian, 1917-1994) Village near Akure, en route Benin image 2
Lot 68*

Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E
(Nigerian, 1917-1994)
Village near Akure, en route Benin

Amended
17 March 2021, 17:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £12,750 inc. premium

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Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E (Nigerian, 1917-1994)

Village near Akure, en route Benin
signed and dated 'BEN ENWONWU/ 1953' (lower right); inscribed 'VILLAGE NEAR/ AKURE, EN ROUTE BENIN/ NIGERIA' (verso)
oil on board
22.5 x 42.5cm (8 7/8 x 16 3/4in).

Footnotes

After graduation from The Slade and with a masters in anthropology, Enwonwu returned to Nigeria as art advisor to the colonial government in 1948. In the following years, Enwonwu spent time traveling across Nigeria to document aspects of Nigerian culture, people and landscapes. On his return from a successful US tour in 1951 and exhibitions in London and Paris in 1952, Enwonwu continued this practice of travel and documentation.

Ogbechie writes that "Enwonwu's paintings derived from actual observations of cultural activities in a wide range of Nigerian environments, He sketched scenes from direct observation during his extensive travels around the country". Village near Akure is one such painting.

Saleroom notices

Provenance: The estate of Prof. Adelaide M. Cromwell (1919-2019). Adelaide Cromwell was the founder of the African American Studies Center at Boston University in 1959 and did much raise awareness of Boston's black history.

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