Francis Davison 1919 -1984
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People often ask what is the aim, what is the meaning of the collages, instead of looking to see what has been made with paper instead of paint. So I don’t explain them. I look at them again and see that what was obviously a mess has taken shape. There’s something, it’s flat, there are empty spaces, there’s slight relief, one piece of paper goes behind, another comes in front. There are false starts, crossings out, suggestions that are not followed up. This work the paper is doing gradually arrives at something ‘made’ cutting away what is not wanted, adding more and taking away, more of this colour, less of that, simplifying, messing until everything is lost or saved. The whole process is there, even what was cut out or what was used and discarded until something modest appears, a satisfactory balance and stillness, a suggestive form. Found amongst Davison’s papers after his death.
Price £10.00
Francis Davison An exhibition to celebrate Andrew Lambirth’s new book on Francis Davison
goldmark 2013
Francis Davison by Andrew Lambirth Published October 2013
Hardback, 27 x 22.5 cm, 160pp with colour + mono illustrations throughout, published by Sansom & Company Signed copies at £25 with free dvd on the artist
Lambirth’s previous books include such luminaries as Roger Hilton, John Hoyland, Margaret Mellis, Allen Jones, R.B. Kitaj, Ken Kiff, Maggi Hambling, L.S. Lowry, Eileen Agar and Craigie Aitchison.
Francis Davison (1919-1984) Painter and collagist Francis Davison was born in London. After reading English and Anthropology at Cambridge, he wrote poetry, and took up drawing in 1946. On marriage to artist Margaret Mellis in 1948, the couple settled in Suffolk where they ran a smallholding at Syleham before moving to Southwold. By the early 1950s Davison's paintings had become simplified shapes and it was not long before he ceased painting in favour of working in collage. Over the next 20 years reference to landscape disappeared and the colour range was extended. Davison relied entirely on found, used and unpainted papers, which were cut and fitted with great exactitude. By the end of his life he had developed a method of tearing paper that gave him complete mastery over his material. A very private man, Davison shunned publicity and insisted that only the most basic information should accompany the showing of his work. Reflecting this, he never received the recognition his work deserved, and there was only one
substantial exhibition during his lifetime - at the Hayward Gallery in 1983 - but critical attention has grown since his death in the mid-1980s. Davison's work was greatly admired by many of his contemporaries, most notably Patrick Heron and Roger Hilton. He is now seen as a major abstract collagist, with exhibitions at many public and commercial galleries. His work is held in the Arts Council collection. From Andrew Lambirth’s new book on Francis Davison October 2013
Title page:
2. Church, New Montrose c1948, oil on board, 37.5 x 52.5 cm
1. Orange Square and Pink 1975, collage, 43 x 48 cm
3. Fruit and Vase on Table c1948-49, oil on board, 61 x 46 cm
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4. Boats c1948, oil on board, 47 x 61.5 cm
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5. Copper Pots c1948, oil on board, 26 x 40 cm
6. Three Cottages c1950-51, oil on board, 43 x 56 cm
7. Cottage c1950-51, pencil and oil on card 24.5 x 31 cm
8. House c1950s, collage, 45.5 x 61 cm
9.
House with Pond c1952-63, collage, 60.5 x 50.5 cm
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10. Pointed Roofs c1952, collage, 51 x 61.5 cm
11. Boat c1952-63, collage, 67 x 87 cm
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12. Pond with Trees c1952, collage, 50.5 x 60 cm
13. Patchwork Fields c1952, collage, 50.5 x 61 cm
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14. House (Essex) c1952-63, collage, 43 x 55.5 cm
15. Still Life with a Cottage (Essex) c1952-63, collage, 43 x 55.5 cm
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16. Blue and Green Circles and Oblongs 1965-71, collage, 61 x 58.5 cm
17. Small Squares, Grey, Green, White & Mustard 1965-71, collage, 60 x 84 cm
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18. Green, Greys, Black with Rivets 1970, collage, 83 x 100 cm
19. Red, Blue and Grey 1965-71, collage, 67 x 84 cm
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20. Yellow, Green & Grey 1965-71, collage, 85 x 86 cm
21. Untitled c1965-70, collage, 64 x 68 cm
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22. Black Triangle, Leaning Oblong c1970, collage, 71.5 x 75.5 cm
23. White, Brown and Green 1978-83, collage, 56 x 67 cm
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24. Green & White c1980, collage, 48.5 x 54 cm
25. White, Green, Orange, Black c1973-76, collage, 47.5 x 52 cm
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26. Blue, Brown, White, Green and Ochre c1978-83, collage, 81.5 x 82 cm
27. Untitled c1980, collage, 65 x 56 cm
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28. White Rectangle with Red & Blue c1978-84, collage, 75 x 70 cm
29. Green, Pink and Black c1978-83, collage, initialled, 79 x 79 cm
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30. Blue, Brown and Beige c1984, collage, 64.5 x 61.5 cm
31. Red, Blue and Orange Stripe c1980, collage, 86 x 71.5 cm
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32. Green, Black, Beige and Purple c1980, collage, 61 x 60 cm
33. Untitled, c1980, collage, initialled, 72 x 80.5 cm
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34. Red and White c1980, collage, 58 x 65 cm
35. Bordered Green c1976-78, collage, 61 x 65.5 cm
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36. Torn Paper Collage c1983, collage, 97 x 98 cm
Goldmark has been selling art from the gallery in Uppingham for over three decades. Prints and paintings, ceramics and sculpture are shipped to clients all over the world. Much of the work is now bought online from our extensive website. As well as producing numerous art catalogues we also make art ďŹ lm documentaries and occasionally publish books.
First published in the United Kingdom in October 2013 by Goldmark All rights reserved Text Š Andrew Lambirth 2013 Photography Christian Soro Design Porter/Goldmark ISBN 978-1-909167-06-3
Goldmark Gallery 14 Orange Street, Uppingham Rutland, LE15 9SQ 01572 821424 www.goldmarkart.com
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‘Francis Davison is, in my estimation to date, the pre-eminent British abstract artist of the second half of the 20th century.’ Julian Spalding, Art historian and curator of Davison's only lifetime major exhibition at the Hayward gallery in 1983.
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14 ORANGE STREET, UPPINGHAM, RUTLAND, LE15 9SQ 01572 821424 www.goldmarkart.com