John Piper (1903 - 1992) Wetheringsett, Suffolk, 1960-61 Oil...

Hammer

£10,000

John Piper (1903 - 1992)
Wetheringsett, Suffolk, 1960-61
Oil on canvas 
Signed lower right, 'Piper'
With original letter from the artist verso

Lot essay:
John Piper is well-known for his paintings of cottages and barns, and of Suffolk subjects, but to see an example of one of these painted in this style and of this date is extremely unusual. The current work is in a distinct style which Piper adopted in 1960-61 and which is particularly associated with a distinct 1961 group small paintings of Rome, Ostia Antica and a few other Italian subjects (note that, in the accompanying letter, of Feb 1961, Piper mentions an imminent trip to Rome).
The work would have been painted not long before the letter was written, and its small size of the work and its relatively obscure but quirky subject, including the specific details of place-names which are deliberately legible on the road sign, suggest that it was painted by Piper for a particular person with a connection to the locality, perhaps on commission or as a favour. This suggestion would be further supported by the fact that there is no known 'series' of John Piper Suffolk paintings, or indeed paintings of Southern or Eastern England, from this particular date, a time when Piper was focussing on other interests, namely continental subjects (Venice, France) and church commissions. As well as the foreign trip, a commission for designs for cathedral vestments, almost certainly for Coventry Cathedral, is referred to in the accompanying letter.

We are very grateful to Rev. Dr Stephen Laird FSA for preparing this catalogue entry.

Dimensions:
(Canvas) 8 in. (H) x 10 in. (W)
(Frame) 10 in. (H) x 12 in. (W)