Study for a Group of Bathers

Study for a Group of Bathers, a painting considered lost without trace until now, is one of a group depicting male bathers on beaches which Vaughan worked on in the early 1950s. Other key examples include, Fishermen and Bathers, 1951; Group of Bathers; 1951; Roman Bathers, 1952; Assembly of Figures II, 1953 and Small Assembly of Figures, 1951/3. Whereas all these examples are tightly structured compositions, the present work is more loosely handled, and the pigment is applied with the freshness and spontaneity of a sketch. The paint is applied in broad strokes with built-up impasto layers as though executed with some urgency.

The three figures (one seated on rocks, one standing to dry himself with a towel and the third walking towards his companions) occupy a rocky cove at twilight. The slate-grey sky and sombre lighting create an ominous atmosphere. This is not a time we would expect to go swimming. As ever with Vaughan, a sense of disquiet and underlying disturbance is present, and we are forced to question the nature of this nocturnal scene.

We are very grateful to Gerard Hastings for preparing this catalogue entry. His forthcoming book is Keith Vaughan: The Graphic Art.