• Lady Margaret Myddleton (1910 - 2003)

    Harbour at Menton

      Oil on canvas 32 x 45 cm Signed lower left, and titled on label to reverse. Myddleton's sunny view of this fashionable Cote d'Azur port sees two sailing boats make their way into the harbour, as three onlookers watch from the pier. Behind them rise the town's sun-drenched buildings, including the basilica of Saint-Michel-Archange, and the purple of the French Alps. Lady Margaret Myddleton was an accomplished painter, painting interiors, country houses, and landscapes (both home and abroad). This was likely painted while Lady Myddleton was holidaying on the French Riviera. Most of her watercolours are on display in Chirk Castle, Wrexham, the family seat of the Myddleton family since 1593 (although the castle's ownership was transferred to the National Trust in 1981). Lady Myddelton was the chatelaine of the castle for thirty years, and died there in 2003. She had married Lt-Col Ririd Myddelton (Deputy Master of the Household to King George VI) in 1931, and the couple struggled to maintain the castle and estate. In 1978, Chirk and its 468 acres of parkland were bought for the nation through the National Land Fund and for the next three years were administered by the Welsh Office. In 1981 they passed to the National Trust, which now manages them. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Click here for more Modern British original painting.
  • William Black Design for Sculpture (1966)

      Watercolour 18 x 16 cm Signed and dated lower right. A design for a metal sculpture, on a blue- and grey-toned background. William Black was a St Ives artist who began his career as an architect. In the 1950s he came into money and ran away to St Ives to become a professional artist, studying under John Tunnard and associating with other artists like Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth. Black rarely put up work for sale during his lifetime and is known for his architectural and deconstructivist sculptures which espoused the modernist spirit of the St Ives group in the 1960s. Condition: generally very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Click here for other Modern British Art.
  • Nancy Weir Huntly  (1890-1963)

    St John's College Bridge of Sighs Cambridge

    Oil on canvas; framed. Signed 'Huntly' 50x61cm Born in India, in Nusserabad, she studied art at the Royal Academy Schools in Dusseldorf. She lived in Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire, with her daughter, Faith Sheppard, also a painter. She also painted under the name Nancy Sheppard. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Nancy Weir Huntly  (1890-1963)

    Trinity College Bridge Cambridge

    Oil on canvas; framed in an antique-white-finished frame with gilt slip. Signed 'Huntly' 50x61cm Born in India, in Nusserabad, she studied art at the Royal Academy Schools in Dusseldorf. She lived in Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire, with her daughter, Faith Sheppard, also a painter. She also painted under the name Nancy Sheppard. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • John Piper (1903 - 1992)

    Newchurch, Romney Marsh (1947)

      Watercolour 40 x 57 cm Provenance: Marlborough Galleries. Signed lower right. A characterful Piper view of Newchurch Church, Kent, with its leaning tower. Piper was rather enamoured by Romney Marsh's churches; the architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner commissioned him in 1947 to produce a book on the area for King Penguin Books. Piper stayed for a time there and the published book included water-colours, drawings, and musings on the Marsh. John Piper CH was an English painter, printmaker, and designer of stained-glass windows. His work often focused on the British landscape, especially churches and monuments, and included tapestry designs, book jackets, screen-prints, photography, fabrics and ceramics. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Click here for other works by John Piper.
  • Norman Adams RA (1927-2005)

    The Sound of Scarp and Vision of Bernadette (c.1980) (Double sided)

    24 x 26 cm Watercolour Norman Adams RA, former professor of painting at the Royal Academy, felt strongly that, "art [without religion] would be a pretty empty vocation." Despite not going to church, nor identifying with any specific belief system, the artist's paintings of the natural world, often dramatic in nature, betray a strong spiritual intensity. On one side of this watercolour Adams has painted a monumental wave crash, captioned 'Southwest Wind - Very Rough Sea The Sea of Scarp.' On the other, is a softer, lilac abstraction entitled 'Vision of Bernadette', a reference to Saint Bernadette's famous visions of Mary at the Lourdes grotto. He studied at Harrow School of Art (1940-46) and then the Royal College of Art (1948-51). His first solo show was at Gimpel Fils in 1952, and his last at the Fine Art Society in 2004. His works included many murals and stage designs. There are many of his major works in the national collection, including the Tate, Leeds Museums, The Whitworth, the Royal College of Art, Bristol Museums, Leicester Museums, The Royal Academy and the Hepworth, Wakefield.  
  • Angela Stones (1914 - 1995)

    Old London Bridge Fantasia (1968)

      Oil on board 56 x 43 cm Signed lower left. A fantasia inspired by Old London Bridge on the Thames. The grey dome of St Paul's peeps over the bridge; bright lights burn in the background, throwing yellows and red reflections onto the water. Moored boats bob gently in the foreground. Stones was educated at the Chelsea School of Art, and was a member of an artistic dynasty. Her mother Dorothy Bradshaw (1893-1983) studied under Jack Merriott – the artist famous for his British Rail posters, and her son, Christopher Assheton-Stones (1947-1999), was arguably the foremost pastel artist of his time. Provenance: the family of the artist. Condition: very good. If you’d like to know more, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Adam Brunskill Book Jacket Design

    for Collins publishers (no relation) Watercolour and collage 22x17cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio Signed lower right Peter Collins Typical Collins, with his bright colours and captivating scene, very reminiscent of his travel posters. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Colliery Mining Scene

    Pen, ink 20x35cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio The use of pen ank ink creates a powerful image, emphasising the stark nature of the colliery. Yet the scene is softened by the presence of figures, dwarfed against the mighty machinery. The strong vertical lines on the timber-clad buildings emphasise the vertical lines of the pit machinery, and suggest the depths of the earth to which the mine reaches; yet at the same time the horizontal nature of the drawing provides a contrast. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Design for BEA Holiday Brochure 1966 BEA Panorama Holidays 

    Mixed media on paper 30x21cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio As a graphic designer, Collins produced many brochures such as these. With his fondness for life drawing, he was perhaps a natural choice for the bikini-clad inhabitants of the pages of a holiday brochure. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Design for Holiday Brochure for Majorca 3 (for BEA Panorama Holidays)

    Mixed media 30x45cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio As a graphic designer, Collins produced many brochures such as these. With his fondness for life drawing, he was perhaps a natural choice for the bikini-clad inhabitants of the pages of a holiday brochure. Collins's first job was at an advertising agency, in the commercial studio, whilst he attended evening art classes. World War II interrupted his career and he joined the Royal Artillery (of the British Army), teaching painting and drawing in the Education Corps - whilst simultaneously teaching at St Martin's School of Art, part time. Following the war Collins studied at the Royal College of Art, winning a scholarship. Leaving in 1950 he then worked as a commercial artist producing some well-known posters for clients including British Railways and British European Airways. He was the Art Director at Odhams Press and spent time designing for both ICI and Shell. With his wife Georgette he created the 'Bacombe Galleries' in Sussex, converting a group of buildings. In 1975 they again converted buildings, this time Stanley Studios in Chelsea which were scheduled for redevelopment; many artists had worked there, probably the most famous being Elizabeth Frink. Combining an artist's studio and a single residence at Stanley Studios the Collinses were immersed in Chelsea's art scene and proceeded to fill the place with art, antiques, sculpture and curios. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Design for Holiday Brochure for Laigueglia Italy (for BEA Panorama Holidays) 

    Mixed media 30x45cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio As a graphic designer, Collins produced many brochures such as these. With his fondness for life drawing, he was perhaps a natural choice for the bikini-clad inhabitants of the pages of a holiday brochure. Collins's first job was at an advertising agency, in the commercial studio, whilst he attended evening art classes. World War II interrupted his career and he joined the Royal Artillery (of the British Army), teaching painting and drawing in the Education Corps - whilst simultaneously teaching at St Martin's School of Art, part time. Following the war Collins studied at the Royal College of Art, winning a scholarship. Leaving in 1950 he then worked as a commercial artist producing some well-known posters for clients including British Railways and British European Airways. He was the Art Director at Odhams Press and spent time designing for both ICI and Shell. With his wife Georgette he created the 'Bacombe Galleries' in Sussex, converting a group of buildings. In 1975 they again converted buildings, this time Stanley Studios in Chelsea which were scheduled for redevelopment; many artists had worked there, probably the most famous being Elizabeth Frink. Combining an artist's studio and a single residence at Stanley Studios the Collinses were immersed in Chelsea's art scene and proceeded to fill the place with art, antiques, scupture and curios. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Design for Holiday Brochure for Laigueglia Italy (for BEA Panorama Holidays) 2

    Mixed media 30x45cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio As a graphic designer, Collins produced many brochures such as these. With his fondness for life drawing, he was perhaps a natural choice for the bikini-clad inhabitants of the pages of a holiday brochure. Collins's first job was at an advertising agency, in the commercial studio, whilst he attended evening art classes. World War II interrupted his career and he joined the Royal Artillery (of the British Army), teaching painting and drawing in the Education Corps - whilst simultaneously teaching at St Martin's School of Art, part time. Following the war Collins studied at the Royal College of Art, winning a scholarship. Leaving in 1950 he then worked as a commercial artist producing some well-known posters for clients including British Railways and British European Airways. He was the Art Director at Odhams Press and spent time designing for both ICI and Shell. With his wife Georgette he created the 'Bacombe Galleries' in Sussex, converting a group of buildings. In 1975 they again converted buildings, this time Stanley Studios in Chelsea which were scheduled for redevelopment; many artists had worked there, probably the most famous being Elizabeth Frink. Combining an artist's studio and a single residence at Stanley Studios the Collinses were immersed in Chelsea's art scene and proceeded to fill the place with art, antiques, scupture and curios. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Design for Holiday Brochure for Laigueglia Italy (for BEA Panorama Holidays) 3

    Mixed media 30x45cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio As a graphic designer, Collins produced many brochures such as these. With his fondness for life drawing, he was perhaps a natural choice for the bikini-clad inhabitants of the pages of a holiday brochure. Collins's first job was at an advertising agency, in the commercial studio, whilst he attended evening art classes. World War II interrupted his career and he joined the Royal Artillery (of the British Army), teaching painting and drawing in the Education Corps - whilst simultaneously teaching at St Martin's School of Art, part time. Following the war Collins studied at the Royal College of Art, winning a scholarship. Leaving in 1950 he then worked as a commercial artist producing some well-known posters for clients including British Railways and British European Airways. He was the Art Director at Odhams Press and spent time designing for both ICI and Shell. With his wife Georgette he created the 'Bacombe Galleries' in Sussex, converting a group of buildings. In 1975 they again converted buildings, this time Stanley Studios in Chelsea which were scheduled for redevelopment; many artists had worked there, probably the most famous being Elizabeth Frink. Combining an artist's studio and a single residence at Stanley Studios the Collinses were immersed in Chelsea's art scene and proceeded to fill the place with art, antiques, scupture and curios. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Design for Holiday Brochure for Laigueglia Italy (for BEA Panorama Holidays) 4

    Mixed media 30x45cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio As a graphic designer, Collins produced many brochures such as these. With his fondness for life drawing, he was perhaps a natural choice for the bikini-clad inhabitants of the pages of a holiday brochure. Collins's first job was at an advertising agency, in the commercial studio, whilst he attended evening art classes. World War II interrupted his career and he joined the Royal Artillery (of the British Army), teaching painting and drawing in the Education Corps - whilst simultaneously teaching at St Martin's School of Art, part time. Following the war Collins studied at the Royal College of Art, winning a scholarship. Leaving in 1950 he then worked as a commercial artist producing some well-known posters for clients including British Railways and British European Airways. He was the Art Director at Odhams Press and spent time designing for both ICI and Shell. With his wife Georgette he created the 'Bacombe Galleries' in Sussex, converting a group of buildings. In 1975 they again converted buildings, this time Stanley Studios in Chelsea which were scheduled for redevelopment; many artists had worked there, probably the most famous being Elizabeth Frink. Combining an artist's studio and a single residence at Stanley Studios the Collinses were immersed in Chelsea's art scene and proceeded to fill the place with art, antiques, scupture and curios. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Lloret, Spain - Design for Holiday Brochure (for BEA Panorama Holidays)

    Mixed media 30x45cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio As a graphic designer, Collins produced many brochures such as these. With his fondness for life drawing, he was perhaps a natural choice for the bikini-clad inhabitants of the pages of a holiday brochure. Collins's first job was at an advertising agency, in the commercial studio, whilst he attended evening art classes. World War II interrupted his career and he joined the Royal Artillery (of the British Army), teaching painting and drawing in the Education Corps - whilst simultaneously teaching at St Martin's School of Art, part time. Following the war Collins studied at the Royal College of Art, winning a scholarship. Leaving in 1950 he then worked as a commercial artist producing some well-known posters for clients including British Railways and British European Airways. He was the Art Director at Odhams Press and spent time designing for both ICI and Shell. With his wife Georgette he created the 'Bacombe Galleries' in Sussex, converting a group of buildings. In 1975 they again converted buildings, this time Stanley Studios in Chelsea which were scheduled for redevelopment; many artists had worked there, probably the most famous being Elizabeth Frink. Combining an artist's studio and a single residence at Stanley Studios the Collinses were immersed in Chelsea's art scene and proceeded to fill the place with art, antiques, scupture and curios. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Lloret, Spain 2 - Design for Holiday Brochure (for BEA Panorama Holidays)

    Mixed media 30x45cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio As a graphic designer, Collins produced many brochures such as these. With his fondness for life drawing, he was perhaps a natural choice for the bikini-clad inhabitants of the pages of a holiday brochure. Collins's first job was at an advertising agency, in the commercial studio, whilst he attended evening art classes. World War II interrupted his career and he joined the Royal Artillery (of the British Army), teaching painting and drawing in the Education Corps - whilst simultaneously teaching at St Martin's School of Art, part time. Following the war Collins studied at the Royal College of Art, winning a scholarship. Leaving in 1950 he then worked as a commercial artist producing some well-known posters for clients including British Railways and British European Airways. He was the Art Director at Odhams Press and spent time designing for both ICI and Shell. With his wife Georgette he created the 'Bacombe Galleries' in Sussex, converting a group of buildings. In 1975 they again converted buildings, this time Stanley Studios in Chelsea which were scheduled for redevelopment; many artists had worked there, probably the most famous being Elizabeth Frink. Combining an artist's studio and a single residence at Stanley Studios the Collinses were immersed in Chelsea's art scene and proceeded to fill the place with art, antiques, scupture and curios. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Mid Century Modern Lounge Interior

    Pen, ink and watercolour 10.5x20.5cm Signed Peter Collins lower right Provenance: The Artist's Studio A stongly-painted image, with a wonderful sense of the light and brightness of a modernist interior. Whether the scene on the back wall is intended to be an extraordinary wallpaper, or whether the view to the garden, we do not know. But the viewer is encouraged to take a seat in an interior that at the time will have felt modern yet comfortable. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Still Life with Green Apples and Bottle

    Oil on Board 49x59cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio A stongly-painted image, with a generous use of skilfully executed impasto and bright tones. A bowl of green fruit, probably apples, and with perhaps some lemons sits besides a slender and partly-drunk bottle, with an abstract tablecloth in red, white and blue behind. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) School Children in a Cloakroom

    Pen, ink and whitening 15x24cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio A stongly-painted image, ensuite with Collins' schoolroom scene that we have listed with a wonderful sense of the light available in a new, post-war school. The schoolboy wears short trousers and - together with schoolgirls - is engaged in the task of time immemorial of waiting in the cloakroom. Shoes are stacked under the benches and coats hang from the hooks. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) St Mary le Strand Church

    Watercolour 17 x 21 cm Signed lower right. Provenance: The artist's studio. Typical Collins, with his bright colours and captivating scene, reminiscent of his travel posters, here a passerby in red walks purposely towards the foreground. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) The Schoolroom

    Pen, ink and whitening 19x27cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio A stongly-painted image, with a wonderful sense of the light available in a new, post-war classroom. The schoolboys wear short trousers and - together with schoolgirls - are engrossed in a task. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001)

    Still Life of a Fruit Bowl (c. 1960s)

      Oil on canvas 40 x 51 cm Signed lower right. A stylish mid-century still life with fruit. Collins's first job was at an advertising agency, in the commercial studio. World War II interrupted his career and he joined the Royal Artillery (of the British Army), teaching painting and drawing in the Education Corps - whilst simultaneously teaching at St Martin's School of Art, part time. Following the war, Collins studied at the Royal College of Art, winning a scholarship. He then worked as a commercial artist, producing some well-known posters for clients including British Railways and British European Airways. He was the Art Director at Odhams Press and spent time designing for both ICI and Shell. With his wife Georgette, he created the 'Bacombe Galleries' in Sussex, converting a group of buildings into a gallery space. In 1975 they developed the Stanley Studios in Chelsea, which were scheduled for redevelopment, into a combined artists' studio and residence. Moving into the Stanley Studios allowed the Collinses to immerse themselves in Chelsea's art scene, and they proceeded to fill the studios with art, antiques, scupture, and other curios. Provenance: the artist's studio sale 2017, lot 2050. Condition: very good.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-200 Exotic Dancer

    Pencil 25x17cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally good, a little gentle spotting. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-200 Royal Naval Bandsman

    Black paint 44x27cm Provenance: The Artist's Studio If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally good, a little gentle spotting. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details.
  • Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Town scene

    Pen and ink 21x44cm (irregular) Provenance: The Artist's Studio As a graphic designer, Collins produced many drawings such as these and we invite you to look at our other drawings and sketches by him. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Good, size is irregular. Click here for other items by the artist and for biographical details.
  • Piero Sansalvadore (1892-1955)

    Chithurst Bridge Surrey

    Signed Sansalvadore. Titled to verso. Oil on wood panel 21.5 x 28cm (8.5 x 11 in) Provenance: Stacy-Marks Gallery, Eastbourne, c. late 1940s An Italian who arrived in London around 1930, the Museum of London and City of London have a series of pictures  Sansalvadore painted of war-damaged London. Click here for other works by the artist. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Piero Sansalvadore (1892-1955)

    Queens’ College Cambridge

    Signed Sansalvadore. Titled to verso. Oil on wood panel 21.5 x 28cm (8.5 x 11 in) £1850 Provenance: Stacy-Marks Gallery, Eastbourne, c. late 1940s An Italian who arrived in London around 1930, the Museum of London and City of London have a series of pictures  Sansalvadore painted of war-damaged London. Click here for other works by the artist. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.
  • Prof Sir Albert Richardson PRA Avioth La Recevresse

    1960 Watercolour 29.5x20cm Signed with initials and dated lower left Avioth is in the Meuse region of France, on the Belgian border. The city was founded in the twelfth century, when a villager miraculously found a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary in a thorn bush. A chapel built on the site soon became a place of pilgrimage and the church on the site - dedicated to Notre Dame - was created a Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1983. Beside the Basilica stands the Recevresse, a piece of stone lacework. Its original function is unknown; it was more recently a place where pilgrims' offerings were received. It was registered as a historical monument in 1840 by the French authorities. Sir Albert Edward Richardson K.C.V.O., F.R.I.B.A, F.S.A., P.R.A. (1880-1964) was a traditionalist, renowned for his distaste of modern architecture. Rooted firmly in the classical period, he lived a Georgian life, refusing to have electricity in his Georgian house – until his wife finally insisted. Professor of Architecture at UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture from 1929-1955, this was evacuated to Cambridge during the war and he became a fellow of St Catharine’s College. Amongst his other achievements, Richardson was President of the RA, editor of Architect’s Journal and founder of the Georgian Group. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Good.
  • Margaret Souttar (1914 - 1987)

    Queens' College, Cambridge I

      Acrylic paint 67 x 74 cm Signed below. Souttar was a Scottish painter and printmaker known for her images of town- and cityscapes. In the early 1960s, she was commissioned to produce a series of prints of the Cambridge colleges. She captures the modernity and optimism of 1960s Cambridge; the fact that a female artist was commissioned to create the prints reflects the changing attitudes of the University towards women. These views highlight the layers of history and architectural styles which make up a Cambridge college. Provenance: the artist's studio sale. Condition: generally very good, on thin paper; some crinkling to paper as a result of being painted. Possible slight discolouration around pediment. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Click here for other views of Queens' College, Cambridge.
  • Margaret Souttar (1914 - 1987)

    Queens' College, Cambridge II

      Acrylic paint 55 x 75 cm Souttar was a Scottish painter and printmaker known for her images of town- and cityscapes. In the early 1960s, she was commissioned to produce a series of prints of the Cambridge colleges. She captures the modernity and optimism of 1960s Cambridge; the fact that a female artist was commissioned to create the prints reflects the changing attitudes of the University towards women. These views highlight the layers of history and architectural styles which make up a Cambridge college. Provenance: the artist's studio sale. Condition: generally very good; some crinkling as a result of using water-based paints on thin paper; slight toning to paper in some areas. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Click here for other views of Queens' College, Cambridge.
  • Paul Ayshford Methuen (1886 - 1974)

    Barrage Balloons, Regents Park, 9 March 1940

      Oil on board 36 x 52 cm Signed lower left and titled and dated lower centre. Lord Methuen's oil painting of Regent's Park on a winter's day, with barrage balloons above. Barrage balloons were set up - stationed at an altitude of around 4,000 ft - as a barrier to enemy aircraft. The steel cables used to tether the balloons would take an enemy aeroplane out of the sky if it were to hit the cable. The UK had thousands of them, filled partly with hydrogen and operated largely by women, to protect significant towns, cities, and military installations. These strange blobs floated over the country, just asking to be captured by artists. Methuen had rejoined his regiment (serving as a Captain) in 1939 but was likely stationed in London for a while, when he might have had the opportunity to capture this scene. When Methuen painted the scene in 1940, Britain was still in the stage of the phoney war. The Battle of Britain did not commence until 10 July, and the Blitz not until 7 September - but Britain's defences were ready. Barrage balloons were important all the way through the War: they defended London against the V2 missiles; they defended the D-Day invasion fleet; and they protected the invasion army for months. Indeed, it was said that the vast amount of material brought into the UK from the States prior to D-Day would have caused Britain to sink under the sea, were it not for the huge number of barrage balloons holding the country up... Condition: excellent. Recently revarnished. If you’d like to know more, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

Title

Go to Top