Francis Newton Souza

Some minor paint shrinkage in black paint, slight loss of paint in steeple upper right, good overall condition, as viewed.
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When Souza arrived in England in 1949 he was met by a country in decline and was clearly influenced by the post-war angst that affected modern british artists at the time. This work is typical of Souza's early townscapes, the distinctive stained glass quality with bold black outlines enclosing hues of colour. Rudi von Leyden's review of Souza's exhibition in Bombay highlights this quality 'Francis Newton's paintings, perturbing and bewildering to many reveal nevertheless the talent of a strong willed and imaginative artist... he confesses to the fascination of church music and stained glass windows. The luminous mosaic technique of the latter he employs under the influence of Rouault without imitating him. The total effect of this exhibition with its turbulence of colour, is exciting and soothing at the same time.' (The Times of India, November 1948).