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MARY FEDDEN 24 JANUARY – 15 FEBRUARY 2019 Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm and by appointment
PORTLAND GALLE RY 3 BENNET STREET T E L E P H O N E 020 7493 1888
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LONDON SW1A 1RP EMAIL lizzie@portlandgallery.com
www.portlandgallery.com Front cover: The Black Table
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Oil on canvas 30 x 20 ins Catalogue no.5
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Back cover: Vase of Flowers
Oil on canvas 30 x 20 ins Catalogue no.2
MARY FEDDEN OBE RA RWA (1915-2012) In 1932, when she was 17 years old, Mary Fedden arrived at the Slade School of Art. Most of the Slade’s teaching at the time consisted of learning to paint still lifes and landscapes, in a broadly realistic style and in a muted colour palette. The exception was Vladimir Polunin, the émigré stage designer who came to England as Diagelev’s main designer for the Ballets Russes: “He gave me a direction for colour and design that I didn’t get from the rest of the staff… looking back I am sure he was wonderfully inspirational to me”. It was also through Polunin that Mary first met Julian Trevelyan- whilst she was still at the Slade, and he had just married his first wife, Ursula Darwin.
In the Spring of 1949, following Julian’s split from Ursula, he and Mary travelled to Sicily. They drove down though Europe in Julian’s Hillman, and stayed on the island for more than two months: “It was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me, and almost the most wonderful thing that ever did happen”, she later recalled. When they returned to London, Mary moved into Julian’s house at Durham Wharf and they married in 1951. Durham Wharf was their home and studio, and they painted in adjacent rooms, often giving each other advice, and influencing one another’s style. After Julian’s death (in 1988) Mary said, “I miss his bright, discerning eye everyday”.
Very few artists have had as long and productive a career as Mary’s. The works in this exhibition cover a period of over sixty years, but only two were painted before Julian and Mary’s relationship began. Both “Still Life with Staffordshire Zebra” (cat.no.1) and “Vase of Flowers” (cat.no.2) are stylistically quite different from the rest. In their life-like representation and dark palette, we see the influence of the Slade’s painterly ethos, whilst a kind of neo-romanticism is also present. Mary was a great admirer of Samuel Palmer’s early sepia drawings and paintings- she was especially drawn to their moonlight, and to their deep, rich shadows. Mary’s style didn’t stop evolving, but it would be difficult to highlight another point at which such a clear and defined transition is seen, as at this moment. 1. Still Life with Staffordshire Zebra (Redcliffe Road) Signed and dated '1946' (lower left); further signed, inscribed and dated 'Redcliffe Rd., 1946' (on artist's label verso) Oil on canvas 30 x 20 ins Literature:
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With the passage of time, Mary’s colours become bolder and the objects in her paintings become clearer. In many of the earlier paintings, she allowed objects to overlap. Her very latest works are pared down to their pure essence, with flat plains of colour and carefully placed objects- she liked them to have their own space. Nevertheless, her work retains its distinctive style. To look at almost
Mel Gooding, Mary Fedden, Scolar Press, Aldershot, 1995, p.17, illustrated The Artist, March 1995, illustrated, front cover
any painting or work on paper by Mary, is to instantly recognise it as hers. From Polunin to Julian, Mary spoke of a variety of influences on her work, and yet her own character always shines through: “I get my ideas from photographs, from other painters, from flower catalogues (but) I have always hoped I’ve got enough sort of handwriting to change things into something that is mine alone”.
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3. Figures in a Provenรงal Garden
4. Breton Pipes
Signed and dated '1951' (lower left)
Signed and dated '1953' (lower left)
Oil on canvas 21 x 17 ins
Oil on canvas 24 x 33 ins
Provenance:
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Ian McVitie Weston Gallery Private Collection
Exhibited:
Pallant House Gallery, Magic Realities: The Artistic Marriage of Mary Fedden & Julian Trevelyan, held at Petworth House, July 2006, catalogue not traced
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6. Flower and Pear Signed and dated '1987' (lower left) Gouache 3 x 5 ins Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner
7. The Cake Signed and dated '1978' (lower right) Oil on canvas 20 x 30 ins Provenance:
Richard Green, where purchased by the previous owner
Literature:
Christopher Andreae, Mary Fedden: Enigmas and Variations, p. 121, plate 136, illustrated
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8. The Blue Table Signed and dated '1975' (lower right) Oil on canvas 20 x 30 ins Provenance:
Purchased from the 1975 exhibition by the grandmother of the present owner
Exhibited:
London, New Grafton Gallery, September 1975, cat. no. 5
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9. Still Life with Lemon Signed and dated '1971' (lower left) Gouache and pastel 11 x 15 ins Provenance:
Ian McVitie Weston Gallery Private Collection
10. Volcano Signed and dated '1996' (lower left) Oil on board 24 x 20 ins Provenance:
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Redfern Gallery, where purchased by the previous owner
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11. Julian in Spain
12. Siesta in Spain
Signed and dated ‘1983’ (lower right)
Signed and dated '1984' (lower left)
Oil on board 8 x 6 ins
Oil on board 16 x 20 ins
Provenance:
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Ian McVitie Weston Gallery Private Collection
Provenance:
Bohun Gallery, Henley-on-Thames, where purchased by the mother of the present owner
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13. Julian and Bird
14. Spanish Village
Signed and dated '1984' (lower left)
Signed and dated '1982' (lower left)
Gouache 10 x 7 ins
Oil on canvas 16 x 20 ins
Provenance:
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Michael Parkin Gallery, where puchased by the previous owner
Provenance:
New Grafton Gallery, where purchased by the husband of the previous owner in 1982
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15. The Orange Table Signed and dated '1996' (lower left) Oil on canvas 30 x 36 ins Provenance:
Purchased at the 1996 exhibition by the present owner
Exhibited:
London, Royal Academy of Arts, Summer Exhibition, 1996, cat. no. 644
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16. Slice of Watermelon
17. Half an Avocado
Signed and dated '1992' (lower left)
Signed and dated '1986' (lower right)
Gouache 10 x 7.5 ins
Oil on board 16 x 20 ins
Provenance:
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Milne and Moller, where purchased by the previous owner
Provenance:
Purchased at the 2008 exhibition by the present owner
Exhibited:
London, New Grafton Gallery, 25th Anniversary Show Part II, June 1993 London, Portland Gallery, Mary Fedden, A Retrospective, 8-30 May 2008
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18. Strawberry Hill Signed and dated '1990' (lower right) Oil on canvas 24 x 30 ins Provenance:
Private Collection
Literature:
Christopher Andreae, Mary Fedden, Enigmas and Variations, Lund Humphries, Farnham, 2007, p. 72, no. 75, illustrated
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19. At Prisoners' Cove Signed and dated '04' (lower left), further signed and titled on a label (attached to the stretcher) Oil on canvas 16 x 20 ins Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner
Exhibited:
London, Portland Gallery, Mary Fedden - A Retrospective, 8 - 30 May 2008 (on loan)
Literature:
JosĂŠ Manser, Mary Fedden and Julian Trevelyan: Life and Art by the River Thames, Unicorn Press Ltd, London, 2012, p.191 illustrated
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20. Julian Walking the Dog
21. The Inland Sea
22. Julian by the Sea
23. Julian in Brittany
Signed and dated '1988' (lower left)
Signed and dated '04’ (lower right)
Signed and dated '1987' (lower left)
Signed and dated '1996' (lower left)
Gouache 10 x 10 ins
Gouache 7.5 x 8.5 ins
Gouache 5.5 x 4 ins
Oil on board 12 x 16 ins
Provenance:
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Private Collection
Provenance:
Kaye Michie Fine Art, where purchased by the previous owner
Provenance:
Private Collection
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24. The White Cliff Signed and dated '1971' (lower right), further signed and titled (on a label attached to the stretcher) Oil on canvas 16 x 20 ins Provenance:
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Private Collection
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25. The Shepherdess
26. The Marriage Ceremony
Signed and dated '1975' (lower right)
Signed and dated '1984' (lower left)
Signed and dated '1985' (lower right)
Signed and dated '1975' (lower right)
Gouache 7.5 x 5 ins
Gouache 8 x 6 ins
Gouache 8.25 x 6.75 ins
Gouache 5 x 5.5 ins
Provenance:
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Ian McVitie Weston Private Collection
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner
28. Winter Scene (Lady with Gamp)
27. Winter's Day
Provenance:
Private Collection
Provenance:
Gifted by the artist to the previous owner in 1975
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29. Fish and Lemon Signed and dated '1964' (lower left) Oil on canvas 16 x 20 ins Provenance:
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Acquired directly from the artist Private Collection
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30. On the Shore
31. Two Ladies on the Shore
32. Lady and Dog on the Shore
33. Woman and Lighthouse
Signed and dated '1988' (lower right)
Signed and dated '1988' (lower right)
Signed and dated '1988' (lower right)
Signed and dated '1993' (lower right)
Gouache 7.5 x 5.5 ins
Gouache 3.75 x 5.5 ins
Gouache 5.5 x 5.5 ins
Oil on board 6.5 x 8 ins
Provenance:
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Private Collection
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner
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34. Two Ladies and Button Boots
35. Blue Window in France
Signed and dated '1983' (lower left)
Signed and dated '1980' (lower left)
Gouache 6.5 x 8.5 ins
Oil on canvas 24 x 20 ins
Provenance:
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Ian McVitie Weston Gallery Private Collection
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
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36. Yellow Lilies Signed and dated '1982' (lower left)
Signed and dated '1986' (lower left)
Oil on canvas 20 x 16 ins
Oil on board 17.5 x 22.5 ins
Provenance:
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37. In the Harbour
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
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38. The Oystercatcher Signed and dated '1992' (lower left) Oil on board 20 x 24 ins Provenance:
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Castlegate House Gallery, Cockermouth, where purchased by the previous owner
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39. The Tabby Cat
41. Sleeping Cat and Speckled Egg
Signed and dated '1991' (lower right)
Signed and dated '1991' (lower left)
Gouache 4.75 x 9 ins
Gouache and pastel 5.75 x 9 ins
Provenance:
Provenance:
Private Collection
40. The White Cat
42. Cat and Mouse
Signed and dated '1991' (lower left)
Signed and dated '1992' (lower left)
Gouache 5 x 9 ins
Gouache 6 x 12 ins
Provenance:
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Private Collection
Private Collection
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the family of the previous owner
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44. Sheep
43. Sheep
45. Sheep at Sunset
Signed (lower left)
Signed and dated '1991' (lower left)
Signed and dated '1993' (lower right)
Oil on board 6.5 x 8 ins
Gouache 4.25 x 4.5 ins
Gouache 10.5 x 6.25 ins
Provenance:
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Private Collection
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the great aunt of the previous owner
Provenance:
Private Collection
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46. Looking for Motley Gouache 10 x 14 ins Literature:
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47. Still Life with Pears and Jug Signed and dated '1996' (lower right)
Susannah Amoore, with illustrations by Mary Fedden, Motley the Cat, Penguin, London, 1997, illustrated, unpaged
Gouache and collage 8.25 x 9 ins Provenance:
Private Collection
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48. Bird on a Branch
49. Still Life with Fish, Lemon and Grapes
Signed and dated '’05' (lower left)
Signed and dated ‘02’ (lower left)
Oil on canvas 9.5 x 8 ins
Gouache 6 x 8 ins
Provenance:
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Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner
Provenance:
Private Collection, USA
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50. Grapes
51. The Green Chair
Signed and dated '04' (lower right)
Signed and dated '1981' (lower left)
Gouache 9.5 x 11 ins
Oil on canvas 20 x 16 ins
Provenance:
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Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner
Provenance:
Private Collection
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53. Still Life with Fish and Butterfly
54. Still Life with Cat by the Sea
Signed and dated '07' (lower left)
Signed and dated '07' (lower left)
Signed, inscribed and dated '1981' (lower left)
Gouache 6.5 x 11 ins
Gouache 6.5 x 10 ins
Gouache 9.75 x 8 ins
52. Still Life with Fish and Butterfly
Provenance:
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Private Collection
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the great aunt of the previous owner
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55. Clown and Zebra
56. Flat Bottom Cups
Signed, inscribed and dated '08'
Signed and dated '05' (lower right)
Gouache 6 x 6.5 ins
Gouache 7.5 x 11 ins
Provenance:
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Gifted by the artist to the mother of the previous owners
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner
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57. Three Brushes
58. Still Life Under the Moon
Signed and dated '09' (lower left)
Signed and dated '10' (lower left)
Oil on canvas 20 x 24 ins
Oil on canvas 20 x 24 ins
Provenance:
Purchased from the 2010 exhibition by the present owner
Exhibited:
London, Portland Gallery, Mary Fedden, Recent Works, 27 May - 11 June 2010, cat. no. 23
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Provenance:
The Estate of Mary Fedden
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59. Black Jug
60. Fruit with Melon
Signed and dated '09' (lower right)
Signed and dated '10' (lower left)
Oil on canvas 20 x 24 ins
Oil on canvas 10 x 12 ins
Provenance:
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The Estate of Mary Fedden
Provenance:
The Estate of Mary Fedden
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MARY FEDDEN OBE RA RWA 1915 1932-36 1930s 1940s
1944-46 1951 1951, 61, 80 1958-1967 1965-70 1984-1988 1992 1996 1997 2006
2008 2009 2010 2011
Born in Bristol Studied at Slade School of Art Painted stage designs for Sadler’s Wells and the Arts Theatre Served in the Land Army and Woman’s Voluntary Service; Commissioned to produce murals for war effort Worked as driver for Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes Married the artist Julian Trevelyan Murals for Festival of Britain, P&O Liner, Charing Cross Hospital Taught at Royal College of Art Taught at Yehudi Menuhin School President of the Royal West of England Academy Elected Royal Academician in the Senior Order Major exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol Appointed OBE Exhibition, Pallant House, Chichester, Magic Realities: The Artistic Marriage of Mary Fedden and Julian Trevelyan, Jul – Aug Mary Fedden, A Retrospective, Portland Gallery (regularly since) Awarded an honorary degree from the University of Durham Mauve Still Life, 1968 exhibited at Tate Britain to celebrate the artist’s 95th birthday Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, Mary Fedden Celebration
Bibliography:
Public Collections include:
Christopher Andreae, Enigmas and Variations, Lund Humphries, 2007 Mel Gooding, Mary Fedden, Scolar Press, 1995
Bath University Bristol Art Gallery Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity Contemporary Art Society, London Derbyshire and Derby Library Service Durham University Falmouth Art Gallery Government Art Collection Guildford House Gallery Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry Hereford City Art Gallery HM The Queen's Collection Lakeland Arts Trust Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge National Gallery of New Zealand HYPERLINK "http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/galleries/collections/ national-museum-of-walesamgueddfa-cymru-1615" \o "National Museum of Wales / Amgueddfa Cymru" National Museum of Wales New Art Gallery, Walsall New Hall Art Collection, University of Cambridge Newport Museum and Art Gallery Pallant House, Chichester Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery Paintings in Hospitals, London Reading Museum Royal West of England Academy, Bristol Sheffield Museum and Art Gallery Southampton City Art Gallery Swindon City Art Gallery Tate Gallery, London Tullie House Museum, Carlisle University of Chichester, Otter Gallery University College London Hospitals
Illustrated Books: Susannah Amoore & Mary Fedden, Motley the Cat, Puffin Books, 1999 Jane Gardam & Mary Fedden, The Green Man, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1998 Mary Fedden, Birds, Windrush Press, 1999
University of Leeds Art Gallery University of York Victoria Art Gallery, Bath Warwick University Williamson Art Gallery and Museum, Birkenhead York City Art Gallery
61. Still Life in France Signed and dated '1981' (lower left); further signed and titled (on a label attached to the backboard) Pencil and gouache 30 x 22 ins Provenance:
The Southover Gallery, Lewes, 1981, where purchased by the previous owner
Exhibited:
Lewes, The Southover Gallery, July 1981
62. Boats in a Harbour, Baltimore Signed and dated '01' (lower right) Gouache 7 x 10 ins
Portland Gallery exclusively represents The Estate of Mary Fedden.
PORTLAND GALLERY