The Lowestoft Bowl (1911)

William Nicholson

oil on canvas

Tate, London, Liverpool and St Ives

Classification:

Painting

Materials:

Canvas, Oil

Physical Object Description:

Inscribed: ‘Nicholson. 1911.’ bottom left

Dimensions:

47.6 x 61 cm

Accession Number:

N03178

Credit:

Presented by the Contemporary Art Society, 1917

Scheme:

Historic Purchase by Committee

Ownership history:

Purchased from the artist through the Goupil Gallery, London by the Contemporary Art Society, 1911; presented to the Tate Gallery, 1917

Relationship:

Goupil Gallery (Goupil & Cie), London Tate, London, Liverpool and St Ives

Subject:

Still Life

This fairly traditional still life, painted in 1911 by William Nicholson, father of the British avant-garde abstract artist Ben Nicholson who was training at the Slade with the likes of Paul Nash, Stanley Spencer, Mark Gertler and Edward Wadsworth, whilst the elder painted a picture that owes debt to both 17th century Dutch and French 19th artists. Originally an innovative graphic artist Nicholson was encouraged by James McNeill Whistler who was President of the International Society to paint in oils and exhibit there. He also exhibited at the Goupil Gallery, London where The Lowestoft Bowl was purchased by the new Contemporary Art Society and, after being exhibited in Manchester and London, presented to the Tate in 1917.

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