William Ratcliffe (1870-1955)

Details

William Ratcliffe (1870-1955)

Spring in Sweden

signed and dated lower right W. Ratcliffe 1913, signed again and inscribed on a label attached to the stretcher Spring in Sweden by W. Ratcliffe 102 Wilbury Rd Letchworth, oil on canvas
20 x 30in. (51 x 76cm.)

Provenance

Gifted to the present owner's family with whom the artist stayed when in Letchworth

Literature

W. Baron, The Camden Town Group, London, 1979, p.338
F. Farmar, The Painters of Camden Town, Christie's Exhibition Catalogue, London, 1988, p.159 (illustrated in colour)

Exhibited

possibly, Brighton, Art Gallery, English Post-Impressionists, Cubists and Others, 1913-4, no.125 as 'Spring, Sweden'
London, Christie's, The Painters of Camden Town 1905-1920,
Jan. 1988, no.131

Lot Essay

Harold Gilman visited Sweden in 1912 and his enthusiasm for the country is believed to have inspired Ratcliffe's trip in 1913. It is unknown whether he met up with Gilman in Scandanavia (he was travelling in Norway at the same time) but he certainly went with the present owner's grandmother and family, who is depicted here with her two daughters.

It is widely considered that the 'Swedish pictures represent the peak of [Ratcliffe's] powers as a painter. They have a confidence of design and strength of colour and pattern which is lacking in his later work'
(F. Farmar, loc. cit.)

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