1. Claude Muncaster, 'Flying At Dusk Over The Pentland Firth'

Firstly, we look at Flying at dusk over the Pentland Firth (Lot 120) by British artist Claude Muncaster (1908-1974). Born Grahame Hall, he was the son of landscape painter Oliver Hall. He adopted the name Claude Muncaster in 1923 to separate himself from that of his father. He exhibited his work for the first time, at age 16, under the name Muncaster at the Royal Academy. During the second world war Muncaster was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, he trained as a navigator before going on to be a camouflage advisor for ships. During this time, he adopted the role of official war artist. The present work was created in 1946, just after the war. Muncaster has combined his work as a war artist shown through the depiction of the military plane in the corner of the painting along with his skillset as a marine painter through the way he has painted the calm view of Pentland Firth in the background.

2. Anne Rothenstein, 'Woman In Turquoise Cardigan'

The present work (Lot 163) is created by British artist Anne Rothenstein (B.1939). Rothenstein grew up in an artistic household, being the daughter of artists Michael Rothenstein and Duffy Ayers. Furthermore, her grandfather was the painter and Royal College of Art principal Sir William Rothenstein; her uncle was the Tate Gallery director and writer Sir John Rothenstein; and her brother was the designer Julian Rothenstein. Rothenstein’s work is influenced by artists such as Kazimir Malevich, Natalia Goncharova and Milton Avery. You can see the influences of these artists in this quintessential example of her work, through the use of shapes, curving lines, and block colours.

Other works by Anne Rothenstein in the auction include, Landscape (III) (Lot 164), Cockerel, With Farm Beyond (Lot 165) and Milk Jug (Lot 167).

3. Attributed to Patrick Nasmyth, 'Figures Resting, Gentleman On A Horse And Cattle On A Country Track'

Next up we have this painting which is attributed to 19th Century landscape painter Patrick Nasmyth (Lot 76). He studied under his father and came to London in 1807. The subject matter of his paintings tended to depict the countryside around the area of London, however his style and artistic inspiration came from the 17th century Dutch artists Meyndert Hobbema (1638–1709) and Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/29–1682). This influence is evident in the present work, through the depiction of clouds, the winding roads, and the general charming portrayal of country life.

4. Mike Healey, 'Poppies'

Showcased here is a still life of poppies (Lot 145) by Scottish contemporary colourist painter Mike Healey (b. 1951). This work reflects Healey’s colourist style through its use of a bright and optimistic colour palette. Through Healey’s use of loose brushstrokes, which create this impressionistic style in his work, he is able to capture fleeting moments of light.

Mike Healey studied under John Cunningham at the Glasgow School of Art, where he later taught at the institution from the late 1980s until 1997. Healey’s work often includes ‘en plein air’ landscapes, particularly of the Highlands and Islands, still lifes, snow scenes and seascapes.

5. William Alister Macdonald, 'Tahiti'

The final highlight is Lot 111, from a collection of works of Tahiti by Scottish artist William Alister Macdonald (1861-1948). Macdonald originally started his career as a bank clerk in Thurso at age 15. Four years later, he moved to their London branch in Lothbury, where during this time he joined the Gilbert Garret Sketch Club and began attending evening classes at St Martin’s School of Art in his spare time.

From 1892, he exhibited at the Royal Academy and Fine Art Society. After a visit to Portugal in 1895 he regularly travelled to Europe and North Africa, and eventually in 1921, at the age of sixty, he settled in Tahiti. He gained a notable reputation for his watercolours amongst American writers such as Charles Nordhoff, James Norman Hall, and Zane Grey.

Other works by William Alister Macdonald in the auction include 'Sunset in Tahiti, with fishermen in a boat' (Lot 109) and 'Tahiti, with boats on the shore' (Lot 110).

Auction Details

Friday 10 February | 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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