ROCKY SHORE BY PERCYVAL TUDOR-HART FROM FLOWERS, MOUNTAINS, ETC

ROCKY SHORE BY PERCYVAL TUDOR-HART FROM FLOWERS, MOUNTAINS, ETCPercyval Tudor Hart was a great artist and a fascinating individual. Although he was born (and eventually died) in Canada, he spent the most significant years of his life in Paris and London. Hailing from a wealthy American family (he was related to the famous 'Ice King' Frederic Tudor who pioneered the international ice trade in the early 19th century), he headed to Europe to study medicine but was soon distracted by the idea of becoming artist. He

Percyval Tudor-Hart was a great artist and a fascinating individual. Although he was born (and eventually died) in Canada, he spent the most significant years of his life in Paris and London.

Hailing from a wealthy American family (he was related to the famous 'Ice King' Frederic Tudor who pioneered the international ice trade in the early 19th century), he headed to Europe to study medicine but was soon distracted by the idea of becoming artist. He graduated from the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and became widely known in the city as one of the finest artists of the era, receiving numerous awards at the Salon. He shared a studio with Toulouse-Lautrec and became firm freinds with Matisse.

From 1903 to 1917, he ran the highly-regarded "Tudor-Hart's Académie de Peinture" in Paris, before moving the academy to London in 1918.

In London, he got involved with the war effort and he (and a number of academy students) created some amazing camouflage designs.

This work, depicting a beach scene, was acquired via one of Percyval's students. We guess that it was 1930s but can't be sure.

Despite the seeming insignificance of the scene, it is a work of great poise and character. It communicates the rugged, windswept nature of the coastline and the vitality of the nature's colours and forms. It has a materiality to it that gives real weight to what is actually a diminutive work.