George Owen Wynne Apperley

George Owen Wynne Apperley (1884–1960, British)

Displayed in a substantial and period carved and painted wood frame.

Accompanied by original receipt for the deposit for purchase, signed by the artist.

A fine and detailed painting showing an intimate view of two richly dressed young women, spectators at a bullfight, viewing the corrida from the shade of a ringside box; an exceptional figural work by this Royal Academician and member of the Royal Institute.

Born in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, George Apperley was educated at Eagle House, Sandhurst and at Uppingham School before entering the Herkomer Academy to study art. At Herkomer, his rebellious streak and bohemian lifestyle led to his early expulsion. In 1904, he visited Italy with his tutor, Major Wilkinson, and it was on this trip that he began to seriously apply himself to his art studies. 

Once committed to his path, Apperly made rapid progress. He first exhibited at London's Royal Academy in 1905 and mounted his first solo exhibition the following year. He continued to exhibit successfully in London and, in 1913, was elected to membership of the Royal Institute of Watercolour Artists. In the same year, he first exhibited at both the Salon des Artistes Françaises in Paris and at the Venice Biennale and, perhaps most importantly for his subsequent artistic direction, in Madrid. It was here that he developed a lifelong passion for Spanish and Moorish culture that was to provide the central source of his artistic inspiration.

In 1917, Apperley was awarded the Prix de Circle des Beaux Arts de Grenade for his entry, The Rose. In 1918, his work was acquired by King Alphonso of Spain for his private collection and also bought by the Spanish government for inclusion in the national collection. Over the course of a long and distinguished career, Apperley exhibited internationally with success and became the recipient of numerous prizes, medals and juried awards. His honors and decorations for services to art included his 1945 investment of the Order of King Alphonse the Wise and, in 1951, his appointment as Academician of Honor at the Academie des Beaux Arts of San Telmo. George Apperley is well-listed in all relevant biographical reference works including Benezit's definitive Dictionary of Artists and Thieme-Becker's Lexikon.

Signed and dated Apperley 1925 (upper left); additionally inscribed, verso, 'Wynne Apperley', dated 1926 and titled, 'At the Bullfight'.

E. Benezit, Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs, et Graveurs, Jacques Busse, 1999 Nouvelle Édition, Gründ 1911, Vol. 1, p. 397;

Thieme-Becker Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zu Gegenwart, Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag 1992, Vol. 1, p. 39; The Dictionary of British Artists 1880-1940, J. Johnson and A. Greutzner, 1980 Edition, Antique Collectors’ Club 1976, p. 28;

Dictionary of British Art Volume VI: 20th Century Painters and Sculptors, Frances Spalding, Antique Collectors’ Club 1990, p. 54;

Mallett’s Index of Artists, Daniel Trowbridge Mallett, Peter Smith: New York 1948 Edition, R.R. Bowker Company 1935, p. 11; et al.