Robin Darwin RA RSA PRWA NEAC (1910-1974)
Seaton Sluice, Northumberland

Sold £2,495.00

An important, large and impressive oil painting by a talented and influential artist. His work does not come onto the market very often. The subject is Seaton Sluice on the Northumbrian coast and likely painted in the first half of the 20th Century before the cottage in the foreground was demolished. The painting was clearly painted Plein Air (on the spot) by the internationally known and widely collected artist, Sir Robin Darwin, (1910-1974) who was the grandson of the naturalist and geologist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) world famous for his contributions to evolutionary theory. The painting is 34" x 40" and was painted in 1947 by the artist whose paintings are in public and private collections across the world. As you can see from the attached pictures, the buildings on the left feature working cottages which no longer exist and to the right relics of the rich industrial past enjoyed by Seaton Sluice loading coal and bottles from Hartley Pit and the Royal Hartley Bottleworks (once the largest in England producing almost 2,000,000 bottles a year). The bottleworks was known as the City and included a market place. It was said that the employees did not need to leave the works to spend their money.

Oil on canvas 87cm x 102cm (34" x 40") Signed. (framed)

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Robin Darwin RA RSA PRWA NEAC (1910-1974)

Sir Robin Darwin, painter and principal of the Royal College of Art and great grandson of the naturalist Charles Darwin. Born London he attended Eton College and Cambridge University and Slade School of Fine Art. He exhibited at the RA and other main London galleries. Appointed as head of the Royal College, where he stayed from 1948 - 71. The College assumed independent university status under his direction. Frances Spalding's book also says that through his leadership, he oversaw a famous period at the RCA which is now rightly known as 'the Darwin era' and his contribution to the world of art was immense and still carries to this day. Knighted in 1964 for his administrative abilities which overshadowed his very real talent as a painter. Landscape was his main interest although he was a good portrait painter, and he produced highly professional and atmospheric examples in oil and watercolour in Britain and abroad.

Artwork Tags: Landscape | Northumbrian | Oil