Michael Ayrton Art

Michael Ayrton (1921-1975) Girl Wringing out her Hair Patinated bronze, 1962 26cm in height Michael Ayrton was a British artist and writer, renowned as...

A rare and powerful example of Michael Ayrton’s mythologically driven output, Birth of Phanes (1958) embodies the artist’s enduring fascination with classical antiquity and metaphysi...

Edition of 12

Michael Ayrton (British, 1921 – 1975) Sleeping figures Inscribed, signed and dated ‘Michael Ayrton 5.11.66 / Sleeping figures II’ (lower right) Pencil on paper 15 x 19.1/4 in. (38.2 ...

“Icarus Suspended” is an extraordinary painting of Ayrton's obsession with flight, myths, mirrors and mazes. This complex piece shows a figure in flight, frozen in action, either swooping down or, perhaps, falling to earth. Named after the Greek mythological figure, Icarus, who along with his father attempted to escape from Crete by means of wings that his father constructed from feathers and wax. Flying too close to the sun the wax melted and both fell to earth. The positioning of Ayrton's figure is reminiscent of "The Fall of Icarus" by Jacob Peter Gowy, Museo Nacional del Prado. This is part of a series of artworks on Icarus some sculptural and some three-dimensional paintings on canvas. Verso contains gallery label Matthiesen Gallery, 142 Bond St., London, England, with a signature and text in upper right corner: "To Morton Schotnick. Bought on the occasion of The Archives of American Arts Tour to London, England. October 10, 1961. Michael Ayrton...