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Blair Hughes-Stanton Art

1902-1981

Blair Hughes-Stanton was the only son of a successful landscape painter, Sir Herbert Hughes-Stanton. He had little formal education, joining a cadet school ship at the age of 13. As an artist, he trained at the Byam Shaw School of Art, where he was greatly influenced by Leon Underwood. In 1921, he moved to Underwood’s new school in Hammersmith and when Underwood went to America in 1925, Hughes-Stanton was left in charge of the school. Although he continued to paint and draw, he soon gained a reputation for his wood-engravings. Hughes-Stanton's first published works were illustrations to T.E. Lawrence’s The Seven Pillar’s of Wisdom, 1926. He married Gertrude Hermes, a well known British printmaker, in the same year. Much of Hughes-Stanton’s subsequent work was in the form of illustrations for private press books, first with the Cressent and Golden Cockerel Presses and then, from 1930–33, for the Gregynog Press in Wales. Between 1928–30, he was closely associated with D.H. Lawrence and illustrated several of his books. It was partly in response to the philosophy of these novels and partly to his new affair with Ida Graves that he created the overtly sexual iconography that marks the prints of this period. In 1933–36, he established Gemini Press, with the backing of Robert Sainsbury, but by 1935, the Depression had put an end to commissions for illustrative works, and he returned to the single sheet print. Hughes-Stanton's prints of the later 1930s are notable in their concern with modernist abstraction. He won an international prize for engraving at the Venice Biennale in 1938. During World War II, he worked in camouflage with the Royal Engineers, after which he was sent to Greece, where he was captured, became a PoW, and was shot in the face. Following the war, commissions for private press books dried up, and his war wound seriously affected his three-dimensional vision. He found work teaching at Westminster School of Art 1947–48, and from 1948 Hughes-Stanton was a lecturer in printmaking and drawing at the Society of Wood Engravers, St. Martins and the Central School of Art. He later lived in Manningtree, Essex.

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Blair Hughes-Stanton 'Reclining Nude' abstract oil painting British Surrealism
Blair Hughes-Stanton 'Reclining Nude' abstract oil painting British Surrealism

Blair Hughes-Stanton 'Reclining Nude' abstract oil painting British Surrealism

By Blair Hughes-Stanton

Located in London, GB

To see our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - or send us a message if you cannot find the artist you want. Blair Hughes-Stanton (1902-1981) Reclining Nude, c. 1936 Tempera on canvas 76.5 x 102 cm Signed lower right 'Blair H S'. Provenance: The estate of the artist. A magnificent abstract nude rendered in a dynamic colour palette. This is probably Hughes-Stanton's most important work, and belongs to the nation's great, if brief, period of British Surrealism. The three major elements are distinct: the pastel tones of the window view and wall, the sensual curvatures of the pale nude, and the bold foreground featuring a fantastically accomplished still life of a fruit bowl (which could be a painting in and of itself) and the impressively phallic chair back. This is a brilliant example of erotic modernist abstraction. Blair Hughes-Stanton, son of the artist Sir Herbert Hughes-Stanton, was a noted British artist of the interwar period. At the age of 13 he joined the Royal Navy training ship HMS Coway, but at 19 - advised by his father - he abandoned the sea for his paintbox. He studied art at Byam Shaw School (1919-1922) where he was influenced by Leon Underwood (who was a major influence throughout his studying), Royal Academy Schools (1922-23), and Leon Underwood's School (1923-25). He was celebrated mostly for his skills as an engraver, and was a founding member of the English Wood Engraving Society when it was established in 1925. His first wife was the printmaker Gertrude Hermes...

Category

Early 20th Century Modern Blair Hughes-Stanton Art

Materials

Canvas, Tempera

Modern British 20th C watercolour drawing of Thetis laments by Hughes-Stanton
Modern British 20th C watercolour drawing of Thetis laments by Hughes-Stanton

Modern British 20th C watercolour drawing of Thetis laments by Hughes-Stanton

By Blair Hughes-Stanton

Located in Petworth, West Sussex

Blair Hughes-Stanton – ‘Thetis Laments’ 1952 The watercolour is signed by the artist lower right in pencil 'Blair HS' and dated (19)52. It was exhibited in June 1954 at The Leicester...

Category

20th Century English School Blair Hughes-Stanton Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor

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Previously Available Items
Isolation
Isolation

Isolation

By Blair Hughes-Stanton

Located in Myrtle Beach, SC

Blair Hughes-Stanton, 'Isolation', color wood engraving, 1959, edition 15. Signed, titled, dated and numbered '6/15' in pencil. Superb, richly-inked impressions, with fresh, vibrant colors, on heavy, cream, wove, Japan paper; the full sheet with wide margins (2 to 9 1/8 inches). Minor toning at the sheet edges, well away from the images, otherwise in excellent condition. Created as book illustrations, the images are positioned on the sheet accordingly; each image 3 3/4 x 6 1/4 inches; sheet size 16 x 20 inches. Matted to museum standards, unframed. Scarce. ABOUT THE ARTIST Blair Hughes-Stanton (1902-1981) was the only son of a successful landscape painter, Sir Herbert Hughes-Stanton. He had little formal education, joining a cadet school ship at the age of 13. As an artist, he trained at the Byam Shaw School, where he was greatly influenced by Leon Underwood. In 1921, he moved to Underwood’s new school in Hammersmith and when Underwood went to America in 1925, Hughes-Stanton was left in charge of the school. Although he continued to paint and draw, he soon gained a reputation for his wood-engravings. His first published works were illustrations to T.E. Lawrence’s 'The Seven Pillar’s of Wisdom...

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Blair Hughes-stanton art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Blair Hughes-Stanton art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Blair Hughes-Stanton in paint, tempera, canvas and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Blair Hughes-Stanton art, so small editions measuring 7 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Antonio Donghi, Béla Kádár, and Ernst Neizvestny. Blair Hughes-Stanton art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,600 and tops out at $61,940, while the average work can sell for $12,760.

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