GEORGE HENRY R.A., R.S.A., R.S.W. (SCOTTISH 1858-1943)
THE BRIDGE
£12,500
Scottish Paintings & Sculpture
Auction: Evening Sale: 10 June 2021 | From 19:00
Description
Signed, oil on canvas
Dimensions
51cm x 61cm (20in x 24in)
Footnote
Exhibited: Royal Academy 1932, no.61
Note:
This delightful pair of oil paintings (here and Lot 135) are replete with an air of easy summer leisure. Both pictures implement George Henry’s distinctive, rich palette which seems almost to radiate heat. The paintings, which appear to represent the same bridge from alternate perspectives, offer a unique insight into the artist’s commitment to his subject-matter through a thorough exploration of composition and technique. Henry has constructed an absorbing interplay of dynamics between his figures, catalysed by the contemplative, observant figure on the far left of each composition. An interest in the interrelationships between his subjects is also evident in this attractive watercolour (Lot 134), which exemplifies Henry’s ability to wield the medium using delicate, feathery brushwork to bring a composition to life.
George Henry studied at Glasgow School of Art in the early 1880s. He relocated to Kirkcudbright to refine his practice, then spent nineteen months working and travelling in Japan, an experience that impacted his painting profoundly. He is remembered today as one of the most prominent members of the Glasgow school.