Another busy two weeks

The excitement of the hunt

Just before we disappear off to the British Art Fair at the Saatchi Gallery next week, we’ve been even busier than usual over the past two weeks, driving around the UK, acquiring many new and rather special works for Castlegate. I’m fully expecting to be asked to officially open any new motorway service stations that may appear in coming years.

Our New Work listing shows all of the works acquired, including the most fabulous large painting by Scottish author and artist, Alasdair Gray. Painted in 1972 (it screams early 70s, it could almost be an image from Abigail’s Party (that dates me)), A New Room was created to accompany prose from poet Liz Lochhead as part of a TV production and is arguably the most important and impressive of Gray’s oeuvre.

Joash Woodrow

We have mentioned for some time our liking and admiration for the works of the late Joash Woodrow. Following two acquisitions over the past few months, we’re very pleased and proud to have obtained five further Woodrow estate paintings. All portrait genre, they display instantly what makes the works of Joash Woodrow so special. Somewhat exciting for me was to acquire a portrait of fellow-artist Jacob Kramer; so a portrait both by and off artists we admire massively 

Keith Vaughan

Also acquired are two paintings by the late Keith Vaughan. Assembly of Figures ii from 1965 is a wonderful gouache, but shown here, The Wall at Ashton Gifford vii is an important early (c 1942) work by Vaughan. As a conscientious objector, Vaughan spent much of his war years in the Non-Combat Corps. In 1942 he was stationed at Ashton Gifford near Codford in Wiltshire. It was from this period that many of the works were created that formed his inaugural 1942 exhibition with the Lefevre Gallery, London. The series of Ashton Gifford "wall" works form an important early body at the very start of Vaughan's professional career. 

Pure 1930s

We acquired the most wonderful 1939/1940 painting this past week and arguably the late Harold Dearden’s greatest work. The Window Cleaners is so of its time; the wonderful strong palette, the style, clothes etc. What I love is the nature of the composition; window cleaners looking through the window to the mannequins, with the viewer, (us) looking through the mannequins to the shop window and in turn, through to the gazing window cleaners. A wonderful painting.

Pure 1920s

Back maybe ten or fifteen years from the Dearden, we also acquired this circa 1925 work by the famous American artist, John Emmet Sheridan. Okay, I know we’re straying from Britian, but A Day at the Polo is a patchwork of 1920s style and image; wonderful.

This time next week we’ll be well into our four days exhibiting at the British Art Fair at the Saatchi Gallery, London. We have some complimentary tickets still available, so please don’t hesitate to let us know if you need any.

All for now,
Steve and Christine