Clare Leighton SWE ARE RE (British, 1899-1989) |
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One of the greatest exploiters of wood
engraving this century was born in London and studied art at Brighton
School of Art, the Slade and the Central School, where she studied
wood-engraving under Noel Rooke, a master of the technique. The large
majority of Leighton's work was in the medium of wood engraving. Favourite
subjects include rural scenes and she illustrated a number of books
including, Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native, 1929, Gilbert
White's Natural History of Selborne, 1941 and a number of others.
She produced an excellent practical manual on the technique, Wood-Engraving
and Woodcuts, 1932 and also taught. One of the best anecdotes
about the artist was when she left her teaching post, a tearful older
girl she had taught protested, "You can't leave us. You taught
us to see beauty in chimney pots." Her style has a nobility of
form reminiscent of Eric Gill, whom she knew well but is also characterised
by long swinging lines and always captures a sense of movement.
References:
Boston Public Library. Clare Leighton/An exhibition, 1977:
nos 242;
Pat Jaffe. The Wood Engravings of Clare Leighton, 1992
Anne Stevens and David Leighton. Clare Leighton. Wood Engravings
and Drawings, Ashmoleon, 1992.
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Entrance at Wickham Court
wood engraving on laid paper
1933
signed and additionally inscribed "to Mr Rice"
edition of 50
Ref: BPL cat: 246
(sheet 13.5 x 10.5 cm.)
£200 (framed in
gilt)
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Yew Hedge at Wickham Court
wood engraving on laid paper
1933
signed
edition of 50
REF: BPL cat: 245
(sheet 11 x 12 cm.)
£200 (framed in gilt)
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Chestnut at Wickham Court
wood engraving on laid paper
1933
signed and additionally inscribed "to Mr Rice"
edition of 50
Ref: BPL cat: 243
(sheet 21 x 15 cm.)
£220 (framed in
gilt)
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The Peacock Tower at Wickham Court
wood engraving on laid paper
1933
signed
edition of 50
Ref: BPL cat: 244
(sheet 21 x 15 cm.)
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Wickham Court
wood engraving on laid paper
1933
signed and additionally inscribed "to Mr Rice"
edition of 50
Ref: BPL cat: 242
(sheet 21 x 15 cm.)
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Lambing
wood engraving
1933
28 x 34.5 cm.
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Haymaking
wood engraving
1933
28 x 34.5 cm.
£165 (framed)
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Cottage Gardens
wood engraving
1933
28 x 34.5 cm.
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Sheep Shearing
wood engraving
1933
28 x 34.5 cm.
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Threshing
wood engraving
1933
28 x 34.5 cm.
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