25th Jun, 2022 9:30 GMT/BST
Modern & Contemporary Art
1056
Frank Paul (b.1984)
"The Wedding"
Signed verso and dated September 18th 2010, pen and ink, 29cm by 20cm
Sold together with the certificate of authenticity and a copy of "Art of England" magazine, September 2010, issue 73, where the work is illustrated on the front cover
Born in 1984, Frank Paul is the son of the artists Lucian Freud and Celia Paul.
Doodling in exercise books at school, Paul knew he wanted to become an artist from an early age. He studied German, Russian and Arabic at Cambridge University but his love for drawing never ceased.
Influenced by Goya and Dore his drawings do not have individual titles. They are quirky and slightly sinister, reminiscent of story tale illustrations. His exhibitions on his series of the 'A-Z of Omens' and illustrations inspired by the music of Bob Dylan were both sell out shows.
He is reputed to be a very private person, shy about his upbringing and association to his father's name. He always felt the desire to draw and never set about to receive his father's approval in regards to his work. However, he did so once via his half sister Bella and Freud's response was 'it's rather good isn't it?'
Sold for £220
Estimated at £200 - £300
Auction: Modern & Contemporary Art, 25th Jun, 2022
An iconic painting by one of the country’s most popular artists working today is coming up for sale in Tennants Auctioneers’ Modern and Contemporary Art Sale on 25th June. ‘The Ark’ by Gary Bunt (b.1957) is expected to sell for £12,000-18,000 (plus buyer’s premium).
Bunt, a self-taught artist, and poet based in rural Sussex, began painting full-time in his 20s. However, shortly afterwards he became seriously ill, which inspired a deep faith which is reflected throughout his work today. Bunt’s naïve and often whimsical style captures idealised scenes of English rural life, with themes of Christianity woven deftly through. Indeed, many of his works have a poem or prayer on the reverse, such as the present painting executed in 2013 of a children’s model Ark and teddy bears which reads “The Ark / Do animals believe in Jesus / Do animals say their prayers/ Are raindrops really angels tears? / Are there Christian Teddy Bears?”.
Leading 20th century artists represented in the sale include Sidney Nolan (1917-1992) one of Australia’s most important artists best known for his representations of legendary outlaw Ned Kelly and the drought-parched Outback. Nolan moved to England in the early 1950s, and the present works were gifted to the vendor who worked for Nolan’s widow, Mary, for many years. On offer is ‘Greece’, a mixed-media depiction of a sailing dinghy off the Grecian coast, painted whilst Nolan was staying on the island of Hydra with Australian writers George Johnston and Charmian Clift (estimate: £1,000-2,000), a lithograph ‘Ned Kelly I’ (estimate: £300-500), and two etchings depicting Ned Kelly and a cow carcass in the Outback (estimate: £300-500 each). Further notable works include ‘Vertical Lines’ and an untitled mixed media work by Sir Terry Frost (1915-2003) (estimate: £1,500-2,500 each), and a watercolour ‘Study of Lucky (Lux)’ by Maggi Hambling (b.1945). An album of photographs of the Ballets Russes’s performance of ‘Thamar’ by Keith Vaughn are also on offer, with an estimate of £700-1,000.
Viewing
Thursday 23 June 10am-4pm, Friday 24 June 10am-5pm and morning of sale from 8am. Viewing is open to the public, there is no need to make an appointment.
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