Piper, John: Abbeville, St Wolfrun – SOLD

Description

Artist: John Piper (British, 1903-1992), signed and inscribed in pencil in the margin

Title and date: Abbeville, St Wolfrun, 1972, (Levinson 207)

Size of picture: 80.5 x 59.4 cms.

Description: a stunning limited edition screenprint with detailed hand finishing, numbered 15 of 70, recently reframed and in wonderful condition.

The screenprint depicts the West Front of one of the two principal churches in Abbeville in the Somme. Also known as St. Wulfran or Vulfran, the church is a magnificent example of flamboyant Gothic style and dates from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. It was damaged by fire during the Second World War then rebuilt and finally returned to worship in 1998.

More images can be provided on request.

Artist description:

Born in Epsom, John Egerton Christmas Piper studied at Richmond School of Art and the Royal College of Art from 1926-8. In the mid 1930a, after a visit to Paris, he turned to abstraction. He became a member of the London Group in 1933 and the ‘Seven and Five’ group in 1934-5. During this period he became friends with Oliver Simon of the Curwen Press and his interest in lithography and print making grew. During the Second World War, Piper was appointed as an official war artist recording the effects of the blitz on Britain’s buildings. After the war, he became a Trustee of the Tate and National Galleries and in 1959 he became a member of the Royal Fine Art Commission. Piper is best known for his extensive studies of British architecture and landscape in oil, watercolour and print, and for his photography, stained glass, ceramics, fabric design, murals, stage sets and costume design. His work is held in many Museums and Galleries.