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Studio stamp verso.
This uniquely shaped design for a domestic window centres on a sprawling pair of entangled floral branches that cover the small squared panels in an astute imitation of a trellis. The design is typical of many of Gray’s domestic windows which often focus on floral designs.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.Signed, dated and studio stamp verso.
This design for a staircase window in a private house features the owner’s favourite flowers, including Daffodils, Irises and Poppies, and is typical of Gray’s secular designs which were often highly colourful and often floral-centric. The window was installed in 1991.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Literature: Jane Gray, Playing with Rainbows. (Shropshire: Ellingham Press, 2011), p.29. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.Warrington Hospital was originally built as an isolation hospital in 1893. The Warrington Union Workhouse Infirmary was built on the site shortly after in 1898, and it was occupied by the Whitecross Military Hospital during the First World War. It wasn’t until 1930, that the infirmary officially became the Warrington Borough General Hospital. Gray’s design for this window in the hospital’s chapel wonderfully demonstrates her colourful, modern style and features the Cross suspended between land and sky, and a line from Psalm 139: ‘O Lord, Thou hast searched me out and known me’. This was one of Gray’s simplest but most favourite window designs, it was installed in the chapel in 1984.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Literature: Jane Gray, Playing with Rainbows. (Shropshire: Ellingham Press, 2011), pp.23, 77. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.Signed, dated and studio stamp verso.
St Mary’s Church, Longnor, was originally built as a chapel to Condover around 1280 A.D. It was then a private chapel to the Corbett family of Longnor Hall, before becoming the parish church. These designs for two stained glass roundel windows in the East window were commissioned to commemorate the Millennium. This window was installed in 2001.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Literature: Jane Gray, Playing with Rainbows. (Shropshire: Ellingham Press, 2011), p.87. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.Signed, dated and studio stamp verso.
Christ Church in Oxon, Shrewsbury is a fine example of an early Victorian church, built in 1854 by Edward Haycock Snr in the Early English style with many lancet features. This stained glass window above the chancel arch was commissioned to celebrate the new millennium, and centres on the star of Bethlehem against a coastal backdrop. This window was installed in 2001.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Literature: Jane Gray, Playing with Rainbows. (Shropshire: Ellingham Press, 2011), p.86. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.This design is for a window commemorating Arthur Henry Edmond Esq., of Ranelagh, 50 Russell Road, Moor Park, Northwood, Middlesex, who held the position of High Sheriff of Greater London between 1973-4. The Clan from whom the Arthurs family descends began among the ancient Dalriadan kingdom of the west coast of Scotland. Their name comes from the Celtic personal name, Arthur, which is of various and often disputed etymology. The personal name Arthur may be derived from some early cognate of the Gaelic “art” and the Welsh “arth”, meaning “bear” and may indicate early Celtic worship of the bear or one who has a high regard for the bear’s virtuous qualities. The Latin motto, ‘Impelle obstantia’ (meaning, 'Thrust aside obstacles’) would originally have acted a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first appeared in coast of arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. The office of High Sheriff of Greater London was created in 1965 and granted armorial bearings 1966. The blazon of the arms, as depicted here is: ‘Gules, two seaxes in saltire argent, pommels and hilts or, between in chief a Saxon Crown or and in base a horse courant argent’.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.This series of eight neat, ink illustrations depicts, as the title suggests, the various fashions of oars and sculls. These fashions include the Solid, Single Girder, Double Girder, Box Loom, Plain Tubular, Square Tubular, Double Lined Tubular and Ordinary Tubular Scull designs.
Laurence Dunn (1910-2006) was a well-known British marine artist and writer known for his depictions of ships. He grew up in Devon, where he practised drawing passing ships, and went on to study at the Central School of Art. He then worked for shipbuilding firm John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, where he contributed to the design of the Royal Yacht. During the Second World War, Dunn worked in naval intelligence. In the early 1960s, he created many line drawings of Atlantic ocean liners.
Upon his death in 2006, the World Ship Society published the following obituary:
DUNN, Laurence. [December 15 2006 — Lloyds List] Many readers will be saddened by the death of well-known marine artist and writer Laurence Dunn in his 97th year. A man of encyclopaedic knowledge, he began his lifelong love of ships in Brixham, where he meticulously recorded passing traffic with the exquisitely accurate line drawings which later became something of a trademark. While studying at London’s Central School of Art his work was noticed by the Southern Railway, which commissioned profiles of its fleet, and this in turn led to work for Orient Line, where he also designed the well-known corn-coloured hull, and later Thorneycroft, where he helped with shaping draft plans for a new royal yacht. During the second world was he worked for naval intelligence at the Admiralty, where his technique did much to improve recognition standards, and greatly expanded his shipping clientele, becoming personally known to many chairmen. As well as the shipping press he worked for mainstream publications such as Everybody’s, Sphere and the upmarket comic Eagle. Through his many contacts he enjoyed going to sea in a great variety of ships from aircraft carriers to colliers. Laurence wrote several books, starting with ship recognition titles which introduced new standards of layout, but his best known work was probably Passenger Liners, which was widely taken up by the travel trade. His love of Greece, where he was an early publicist of island cruising, let to involvement in reshaping various passenger liners beginning with Greek Line’s OLYMPIA. In later life he designed several sets of shipping stamps for the Crown Agents, produced photographic volumes on Thames and Mediterranean shipping and still found time to enjoy the passing Thames traffic. Our sympathies go to his wife Jennifer, who provided succour to the many ship lovers who beat a path to the welcoming door of their Gravesend home.
Laurence Dunn (1910-2006) was a well-known British marine artist and writer known for his depictions of ships. He grew up in Devon, where he practised drawing passing ships, and went on to study at the Central School of Art. He then worked for shipbuilding firm John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, where he contributed to the design of the Royal Yacht. During the Second World War, Dunn worked in naval intelligence. In the early 1960s, he created many line drawings of Atlantic ocean liners.
Upon his death in 2006, the World Ship Society published the following obituary:
DUNN, Laurence. [December 15 2006 — Lloyds List] Many readers will be saddened by the death of well-known marine artist and writer Laurence Dunn in his 97th year. A man of encyclopaedic knowledge, he began his lifelong love of ships in Brixham, where he meticulously recorded passing traffic with the exquisitely accurate line drawings which later became something of a trademark. While studying at London’s Central School of Art his work was noticed by the Southern Railway, which commissioned profiles of its fleet, and this in turn led to work for Orient Line, where he also designed the well-known corn-coloured hull, and later Thorneycroft, where he helped with shaping draft plans for a new royal yacht. During the second world was he worked for naval intelligence at the Admiralty, where his technique did much to improve recognition standards, and greatly expanded his shipping clientele, becoming personally known to many chairmen. As well as the shipping press he worked for mainstream publications such as Everybody’s, Sphere and the upmarket comic Eagle. Through his many contacts he enjoyed going to sea in a great variety of ships from aircraft carriers to colliers. Laurence wrote several books, starting with ship recognition titles which introduced new standards of layout, but his best known work was probably Passenger Liners, which was widely taken up by the travel trade. His love of Greece, where he was an early publicist of island cruising, let to involvement in reshaping various passenger liners beginning with Greek Line’s OLYMPIA. In later life he designed several sets of shipping stamps for the Crown Agents, produced photographic volumes on Thames and Mediterranean shipping and still found time to enjoy the passing Thames traffic. Our sympathies go to his wife Jennifer, who provided succour to the many ship lovers who beat a path to the welcoming door of their Gravesend home.
19.5 x 31.5 cm
Pencil on paperLaurence Dunn (1910-2006) was a well-known British marine artist and writer known for his depictions of ships. He grew up in Devon, where he practised drawing passing ships, and went on to study at the Central School of Art. He then worked for shipbuilding firm John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, where he contributed to the design of the Royal Yacht. During the Second World War, Dunn worked in naval intelligence. In the early 1960s, he created many line drawings of Atlantic ocean liners.
Upon his death in 2006, the World Ship Society published the following obituary:
DUNN, Laurence. [December 15 2006 — Lloyds List] Many readers will be saddened by the death of well-known marine artist and writer Laurence Dunn in his 97th year. A man of encyclopaedic knowledge, he began his lifelong love of ships in Brixham, where he meticulously recorded passing traffic with the exquisitely accurate line drawings which later became something of a trademark. While studying at London’s Central School of Art his work was noticed by the Southern Railway, which commissioned profiles of its fleet, and this in turn led to work for Orient Line, where he also designed the well-known corn-coloured hull, and later Thorneycroft, where he helped with shaping draft plans for a new royal yacht. During the second world was he worked for naval intelligence at the Admiralty, where his technique did much to improve recognition standards, and greatly expanded his shipping clientele, becoming personally known to many chairmen. As well as the shipping press he worked for mainstream publications such as Everybody’s, Sphere and the upmarket comic Eagle. Through his many contacts he enjoyed going to sea in a great variety of ships from aircraft carriers to colliers. Laurence wrote several books, starting with ship recognition titles which introduced new standards of layout, but his best known work was probably Passenger Liners, which was widely taken up by the travel trade. His love of Greece, where he was an early publicist of island cruising, let to involvement in reshaping various passenger liners beginning with Greek Line’s OLYMPIA. In later life he designed several sets of shipping stamps for the Crown Agents, produced photographic volumes on Thames and Mediterranean shipping and still found time to enjoy the passing Thames traffic. Our sympathies go to his wife Jennifer, who provided succour to the many ship lovers who beat a path to the welcoming door of their Gravesend home.
26 x 33.5 cm
Bodycolour and ink on paper Signed l.r.SS Automedon was a Blue Funnel Line refrigerated cargo steamship. She was launched in 1921 on the River Tyne as one of a class of 11 ships to replace many of Blue Funnel's losses in the First World War.
A converted German auxiliary cruiser and merchant raider Atlantis captured and scuttled Automedon in 1940 in the Indian Ocean. Her capture is notable because she was carrying top secret documents addressed to the British Far East Command. Their capture may have influenced Japan's decision to enter the Second World War.
Automedon was Achilles' charioteer in Homer’s Iliad. This was the first of three Blue Funnel Line ships to be named after him. The second was a motor ship launched in 1949 and scrapped in 1972. The third was a motor ship launched in 1948 as Cyclops, renamed Automedon in 1975 and scrapped in 1977.
W. A. Scott was a marine artist known for his highly accurate line and body colour drawings. It is likely that he was an admirer of Laurence Dunn as his work bears much resemblance to Dunn's highly regarded marine drawings.
This highly modern, colourful and geometric stained mosaic design demonstrates Gray’s wide artistic range and love of employing colour and linear shapes in her work. The central image appears to depict a hamlet-like cluster of abstract houses surrounded by squares of field-like green.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.Signed and dated verso.
This design for a domestic window in a Bristol house was the second commission Gray received from this client. Having previously created a panel of eight squares featuring red floral designs, Gray was now faced with the challenge of another eight panel series, this time of fruits, which the client wanted to look as natural as possible. Gray succeeded in completing this effect, the screen featuring 8 bordered roundels containing apples, grapes, pineapple, starfruit, melon, bananas, pears, and citrus fruits.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Literature: Jane Gray, Playing with Rainbows. (Shropshire: Ellingham Press, 2011), p.27. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.St Nicholas Church in Worth Matravers is one of the oldest churches in Dorset. It was built around the year 1100 AD. Though the majority of the church is Norman, some of the stonework appears to come from an earlier building, suggesting that there was a church here in the late Saxon period.This memorial window commemorates John Strange who died in 1984. It was commissioned in advance by John, a keen admirer of Gray’s work, after his wife, Diana, died tragically in 1977. John asked that his window included the sea view from their home, and the vine of grapes in the top panes nods to the full chalice in Diana’s window which sits directly opposite John’s and was also designed by Gray. John’s window was installed in the church in 1986.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Literature: Jane Gray, Playing with Rainbows. (Shropshire: Ellingham Press, 2011), p.22, 75. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.Saling Hall, in Essex, has a long and rich history, dating back to the early 12th century when Sir Baldwin Wiscart was the first recorded Lord of the Manor. After his his son, the house passed to the knightly family of Bibbesworth, who lived there for four generations. Sir Walter de Bibbesworth was a crusader and a poet (in French). Nothing remains of the first Saling Hall which was rebuilt around 1590 by the Maxey family who had bought the hall in 1487. The house faced further remodelling by its 17th century owner, Martin Carter, a lawyer. He ornamented the new facade with Dutch gables, which are the latest example of their kind in Essex, and the house has changed little since. The hall passed through many more hands before it was bought, in 1935, by Lady Isabella Carlyle (née Barton) who was a passionate gardener and gave the Hall its first modern gardens. Lady Carlyle sold the Hall in 1971 to Hugh Johnson, a well known garden writer, who continued Lady Carlyle’s work on the gardens. This watercolour sketch is an early design for a stained glass window commissioned by Johnson for a fanlight in Saling Hall. Johnson wished the design to include the plants he grew in his own garden to symbolise the seasons. Gray designed the panel using Corsican Hellebore for winter, the Crown Imperial Fritillary for spring, Dog Rose for summer (although, this was changed to Agapanthus in the final design), and Japanese Anemones for autumn. In the final window, Gray also included vines to frame the design and nod to Johnson’s oenological interests.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Literature: Jane Gray, Playing with Rainbows. (Shropshire: Ellingham Press, 2011), p.40. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.This triptych of highly modern, colourful and geometric stained glass designs demonstrates Gray’s wide artistic range and love of colour and shapes. The three unique panels are united in their colourful palette and geometric focus but present strong stand alone designs.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.This design for a two part stained glass window has an almost transcendental quality, the central spiralling structure hypnotically drawing the viewer’s gaze inwards. The design perfectly marries Gray’s spiritual and more abstract, secular works across her career.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.This adolescent urban sketch of Richmond Hill depicts, as Gray notes next to her signature, Richmond House, the home of Baroness Orczy’s eponymous hero, Sir Percy (the Scarlet Pimpernel), and shows Gray to be an observant and sensitive draughtsman. In Orczy’s novel, Sir Percy rechristens Richmond House as Blakeney Manor and it quickly rises to the centre of fashionable society.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.24.5 x 15.5 cm
Dated.This adolescent urban sketch of Paris depicts, as Gray notes next to her signature, Place Maubert, and shows Gray to be an observant and sensitive draughtsman. Lying in the 5th Arrondissement of Paris, the Place Maubert has a rich history, once used for debates and academics, and a famed site for religious pilgrimages, today it plays host to a popular open air market.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.6 x 13.5 cm
This design for a pair of stained glass windows depicts two baptisms: the baptism of Christ by John on the banks of the Jordan river and, in turn, Christ baptising a child, although, this time, the baptism involves a font. Both images, however, share an identically placed dove, above their respective baptism scenes.
Provenance: the artist’s studio sale. Condition: very good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. For other works by Jane Gray and more information about her, please click here.