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Edward Burra
Edward Burra original drawing for a costume design for clown, British, 20th Cent

$12,464.39
£9,000
€10,586.03
CA$16,956.83
A$18,842.78
CHF 9,873.82
MX$231,073.14
NOK 125,934.80
SEK 118,474.83
DKK 79,009.65
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About the Item

Edward Burra CBE (British, 1905 – 1976) Costume design for clown pencil watercolour and body colour on paper 19.3/8 x 9.3/4 in. (49.3 x 24.7 cm.) Provenance: The collection of Gillian Raffles British painter, draughtsman and printmaker renowned for his vivid, socially astute watercolours and illustrations. Born in South Kensington, London, and educated at the Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art, Burra was drawn to themes of urban life, the underworld, Harlem Jazz culture, European cabarets, and theatrical spectacle. A frail child with chronic health issues, Burra channelled his energy into watercolour—a medium that allowed him to work rapidly and in rich detail without taxing his strength. In the 1930s, he associated with the English Surrealists and Unit One, while also designing sets and costumes for theatre, ballet and opera. This 'Costume Design for a Clown', executed in pencil, watercolour and body colour on paper, is characteristic of Burra’s theatrical commissions. The elegant simplicity of line, combined with vibrant touches of pigment, reflect his flair for capturing character and costume. Originally from the Gillian Raffles Collection, this piece underscores Burra’s broader fascination with stagecraft, character studies, and performative identities In 1971, Burra was appointed CBE, and in 1973 the Tate Gallery organised a major retrospective. He is now celebrated as a leading figure of modern British art—though often described as a 'great known unknown' for his reclusive nature and satirical yet empathetic portrayals of society’s margins
  • Creator:
    Edward Burra (1905 - 1976, British)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 19.38 in (49.23 cm)Width: 9.75 in (24.77 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    The paper has been joined towards the bottom through the horizontal with corresponding undulations and unevenness. There is not much fading to the paper itself, minor creasings, in a white mount behind glass. In a gilded wood frame with some chips.
  • Gallery Location:
    Petworth, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU540316578742

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