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Lot Essay
Although this drawing is similar in style to Piper's classic early 1950s Portland images this is unquestionably a drawing closely related to one of Piper's major works of 1953, Clymping, an oil on canvas now in the collection of the Britten Pears Foundation (exhibited London, Tate Gallery, John Piper, 1983, no. 137) - this latter work, together with further preliminary drawings and the related lithograph, Clymping Beach (Levinson no. 81, also 1953) were exhibited at John Piper in Kent and Sussex, Mascalls Gallery, Paddock Wood; Towner, Eastbourne, 2011 (nos. 60, 61 and 62).
David Fraser Jenkins compares the sea defences shown in the Clymping subjects with the arrangements of quarried blocks in the Portland drawings: 'The row of sea defences takes on a similar geometrical role of the blocks of stone in the Portland subjects, but the colouring is stronger and more varied' (exhibition catalogue, John Piper, London, Tate Gallery, 1983, p. 122, no. 137).
We are very grateful to Rev. Dr. Stephen Laird for his assistance in preparing the catalogue entries for lots 102, 103, 105, 163 and 164.
David Fraser Jenkins compares the sea defences shown in the Clymping subjects with the arrangements of quarried blocks in the Portland drawings: 'The row of sea defences takes on a similar geometrical role of the blocks of stone in the Portland subjects, but the colouring is stronger and more varied' (exhibition catalogue, John Piper, London, Tate Gallery, 1983, p. 122, no. 137).
We are very grateful to Rev. Dr. Stephen Laird for his assistance in preparing the catalogue entries for lots 102, 103, 105, 163 and 164.