About this lot
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§ Bernard Dunstan RA, RWA, NEAC, HPS (1920-2017) The artist's family at tea, 1953; together with a letter from the artist describing the paintingsigned with initials (lower left)oil on board20 x 30cmProvenance:With Belgrave Gallery, LondonSale; Christie's, 7 November 1991, lot 108In a letter discussing the present lot, Dunstan identifies the figures in the work as his wife, Diana Armfield, feeding their youngest child, David, shown in the highchair, whilst their middle child, Andrew, stands in the doorway. Dating the picture between 1953 and 1954, Dunstan locates the scene as being in the kitchen of Armfield’s father’s Welsh cottage. Bought by his father-in-law as a semi-ruin, Dunstan recalls the family ‘camping out’ in the sparsely furnished cottage, as local builders completed renovations. Commenting upon his process, Dunstan notes that the work is one of several he executed in oil upon an unprimed board. Remarking that this is often viewed as a ‘dubious’ practice, he jokes that it seems to have been good enough for Vuillard and Toulouse-Lautrec - indeed, Vuillard is often cited as one of Dunstan’s most critical artistic influences.Characterised by the informal composition, painterly mark making, and luminous, yet subtle, palette, this tender and intimate domestic scene of his wife and children around the kitchen table is typical of Dunstan’s wider body of work.Artist has applied the paint quite thinly in areas and in other areas has left the paper exposed entirely. The paper beneath is perhaps slightly foxed with some light spots showing up through areas where the paint layer is thin, surface a little dirty upon close inspection, but overall a charming image in nice condition
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