Alfred Munnings 1878-1959
Exmoor, Sheep (in a Field), Withy Pool, 1943-1944
oil on board
39.4 x 61.6 cm
15 1/2 x 24 1/4 in
15 1/2 x 24 1/4 in
signed; titled and dated verso
The sheep depicted in this painting belonged to an Exmoor farmer named Froude Bawden. Bawden and his wife were good friends of Munnings and they were used as models in...
The sheep depicted in this painting belonged to an Exmoor farmer named Froude Bawden. Bawden and his wife were good friends of Munnings and they were used as models in a number of compositions. They lived at Newland Farm, near Exford. Mrs Bawden was painted in a traditional portrait on her thoroughbred mare Harmony, while Mr Bawden was painted driving sheep, on the same white pony as in the present work. Munnings also painted the pony standing at a gate in the Bawden's yard in a Royal Academy painting February Thaw (painted 1945 and exhibited Diploma Gallery, 1956, no. 297).
Munnings painted numerous pictures of the Bawden's sheep and as with his depiction of the Exmoor ponies, he enjoyed the ever changing patterns of colour they made. Here the white punctuates the the darker background. He was fascinated with reflected light and the way it can be used to unify the composition.
We are grateful to Lorian Peralta-Ramos for her assistance in cataloguing this lot.
Munnings painted numerous pictures of the Bawden's sheep and as with his depiction of the Exmoor ponies, he enjoyed the ever changing patterns of colour they made. Here the white punctuates the the darker background. He was fascinated with reflected light and the way it can be used to unify the composition.
We are grateful to Lorian Peralta-Ramos for her assistance in cataloguing this lot.
Provenance
Lt. Col. Jocelyn Gurney, Tacolneston Hall, Norfolk, until his sale with Philips 1992;Private Collection, UK, acquired from the above sale.
