Hazel M. Barnett

Mid 20th Century Modern British Oil Painting Welsh Ponies Grazing Penlan Swansea

1967

Charles Walter Simpson. English ( b.1885 - d.1971 ). Dartmoor Ponies, Devon. Oil On Board. Signed Lower Right. Image size 20.7 inches x 28.2 inches ( 52.5cm x 71.5cm ). Frame size 29.5 inches x 37 inches (75cm x 94cm ). Available for sale; this original oil painting is by Charles Simpson and dates from the 1930s. The painting is presented and supplied in a contemporary and sympathetic wood frame (which is shown in these photographs) mounted using conservation materials and behind non-reflective Artglass AR 70™ glass. The previous ply backboard has been retained and is secured onto the new replacement backboard for posterity. This vintage painting is in very good condition, commensurate with its age. It wants for nothing and is supplied ready to hang and display. The painting is signed lower right. Previously with Harris & Sons, 70 George Street, Plymouth, Devon in July 1936. Charles Walter Simpson, known as Walter, was a leading figure in the Newlyn and St Ives art colonies in the early part of the twentieth century. He is perhaps best known in America for his horse paintings but is also widely acclaimed for his mastery of birds. It has been said that as a painter of wildfowl Simpson can have few rivals. He worked in oils, watercolors and tempera. Walter was born at Camberley on 8th May 1855. His mother was Leonora (nee Devas) and his father was Major-General Charles Rudyard Simpson of the Lincolnshire Regiment. Initially Walter was educated by a private tutor, and he later attended the Herkomer School at Bushey. As a youngster Walter was destined for a military career. However, this was prevented by a riding accident which affected both his hearing and sight. He had a considerable talent for drawing and determined to become an artist instead. Walter was initially largely self-taught, but then received guidance from family friends such as G.F. Watts and H.W.B. Davis, RA. He later studied for a short time under the renowned animal artist Lucy Kemp-Welch at Bishley, then with Sir Alfred Munnings, with whom he developed a life-long friendship, at Swainsthorpe. Munnings encouraged him to visit Cornwall, where he studied under Stanhope Forbes RA in Newlyn. Simpson’s first home in West Cornwall was Penzer House in Newlyn, where he was living in 1908. Finally, Simpson completed his studies at the Academie Julien in Paris in 1910. On his return from Paris, Simpson moved to Cornwall again and became engaged to fellow artist Ruth Alison just a couple of days after first meeting her. They were married in 1913, living first in Newlyn and then in Lamorna at “Brodriggy”. They had a daughter, Leonora, born in 1914. In 1916 Simpson and his family moved to St. Ives to set up their own School of Painting, which they ran from numbers 1 and 2 Piazza Studios. During this period Simpson dominated the St. Ives art scene. The family moved back to London in 1924 but returned to Cornwall in 1931. Altogether, they moved between West Cornwall and London eleven times. From his studio in Cornwall Simpson painted in earnest, often on a grand scale, producing wonderful large decorative canvases, specialising in wild ducks, gulls and other sea birds. He had a reputation as an outstanding animal and bird painter. Paget described Charles Simpson in 1945 as “undoubtedly the best bird painter living. He alone, of all artists past and present, can make his birds appear out of their backgrounds as one approaches them, or the light is increased as in nature…”. Simpson relished painting en plein air and Laura Knight commented, "He was so prodigal with paint, he could be traced by the color left on the bushes!". Simpson first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1906, initially painting mainly non-sporting subjects. From then on, he was a regular contributor to the Royal Academy exhibitions. It was not until 1924, when a rodeo was held at Wembley during which he worked in the ring and produced a book call El Rodeo...

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