拍品 59
  • 59

JOHN ATKINSON GRIMSHAW | The Moonlit Rendezvous (Old House on Whitby Road)

估價
80,000 - 120,000 GBP
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招標截止

描述

  • John Atkinson Grimshaw
  • The Moonlit Rendezvous (Old House on Whitby Road)
  • signed and dated l.l.: Atkinson Grimshaw 1878+; titled signed and dated on the reverse: Old house on Whitby road./ Atkinson Grimshaw 1878+
  • oil on panel
  • 28 by 40cm., 11 by 16in.

來源

Purchased in Vancouver by the parents of the present owner in the late 1960s or early 1970s and thence by descent

Condition

The board is flat and providing a stable structural support. There are no signs of craquelure and the paint surface appears stable and clean. The picture is ready to hang. UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT There are no signs of retouching. FRAME The picture is contained in an attractive ornate Victorian moulded plaster and gilt frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

拍品資料及來源

From the 1870s onwards a change in style and subject matter can be observed within Grimshaw’s work, most likely to meet with the ever-altering commercial tastes of Victorian patrons. This particular painting is a key example of the artist’s new-found oeuvre during this period and is part of a series of deserted, semi-rural, moonlit scenes completed by Grimshaw which would eventually become synonymous with his name. Being a native of the city of Leeds, Grimshaw and his family based themselves at Knostrop Hall, situated on the eastern edge of the city, and later located themselves near to Scarborough around the years in which this painting was completed. The surrounding Yorkshire countryside provided endless inspiration for the artist and a number of the winter, nocturnal scenes of this particular compositional motif display a lane, flanked by bare trees, disappearing off into the distance with a partly hidden mansion located in the background. A solitary figure is a typical addition within the scene, however Grimshaw has chosen an unusual arrangement in this painting through the inclusion of a man with his dog walking away from an isolated female figure, highlighted by the full moon in the upper right corner. This arrangement allows for speculation as to the outcome of this private moment, and contributes to the intriguing nature of this narrative.

Grimshaw’s masterful portrayal and understanding of light and weather within these settings is clearly exhibited in this scene. The awareness of the effects of moonlight reflecting off the clouds and landscape generates a sense of realism as well as atmosphere and mood, thus producing a work essentially romantic in tone and encompassing certain stylistic features of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Additionally, the attention to detail towards the silhouetted, interlacing branches and the cool colour palette contrasted by the warm glow that escapes from the window of the distant house highlights the artist’s ability to create a remarkable atmospheric and detailed setting.

The sense of mystery and intrigue that results from the solitary female and the departing man with his dog, together with the effects of the winter moonlit scene contributes to the nostalgic atmosphere conjured up by Grimshaw. The initially perceived simplistic image of a countryside shrouded in moonlight develops into an evocative romantic subject that became so sought after and admired amongst the Victorians during the 1870s, and subsequently collectors of the present day.