A superb exhibition opened last Friday at the Towner Gallery, Eastbourne. The Towner, long a repository of some fine work by that most English of watercolourists, Eric Ravilious, has a show featuring not only his paintings but also a photographic collection of the work of his son James. Sadly the two never knew each other as Eric lost his life in a flying accident during the war whilst employed as an official war artist. James grew up with his father's eye for truth and observation though, and his recording of scenes of village life and landcsape around his home in Devon never lapse into either chocolate box or have so much 'verité' that they become inaccessible - simply, it is as if the photographer is not there, his presence never trespassing upon the scene - a rare gift and proof positive that James was completely accepted by his subjects with an ability to blend into the background. Never asked to pose, the characters peopling his work are consequently full of life and vigour. Eric's work has always been amongst that of my favourite artists...watercolours and yet not in the conventional style, a dry brush, cross hatching, muted colours, extreme detail but also expanses of landscape and sky with hard edges to the clouds. Of course I'm no Bernard Berenson so my analysis is a bit thin and it sounds like it shouldn't work, but it does, triumphantly! There's a lot about his chosen subject matter that pleases a Sussex person and indeed much of the exhibition contains work from my area, but again not always the obvious...of course The Downs, but also Newhaven Harbour and the long-gone Cement works only a couple of miles from the highly decorated Charleston 'set'.
On show too are Ravilious' wood engraving (his engravings are stunning works in miniature by the way) tools wrapped in a velvet cloth and James' beloved Leica camera with its customised lenses. Thinking I might finally avail myself of the reproduction Ravilious 'Alphabet' mug by Wedgwood at the gallery shop I was told that they are no longer available and the manufacturer's future is far from rosy...sad but there were two lovely books to be had featuring the work of father and son to which I can turn whenever I need a Ravilious fix.
9 comments:
I recognise Eric Ravilious' talent unreservedly, but I like some of his work more than others. I always struggle with insipid colours, however skillfully they're applied, but I love the engravings.
I had no idea about his son - the photo you've used is stunning and I shal;l definitely seek more of his work out. Thanks
That's where we must differ WH...the muted colours are absolutely his style and when you see the land tilled in this part of the world, all that chalkiness predominates. His work has a strange sadness to it which I rather like. Somehow it's so thirties too...but maybe that's just an association I add to it.
James Ravillious is one of my favourite 'togs. He lived in the same area as my in-laws and a bit of the Devon he recorded can still be glimpsed, now and again.
Although I've been a fan of Eric Ravilios for years, I first saw the work of James in quantity at a superb exhibition in the foyer of the National Theatre a year or so ago - it;s all great, but his photographs of 'his' area of North Devon are very special. It's marvellous, and very moving, that the family sense of place was handed down from father to son even though the son never knew his father.
Baler twine for a belt. Very Devonshire. Marvellous!
Thankyou so much for this Mr.Dudley, you have caught the spirit of these two superbly. I intend to get to the exhibition, and I've just bought the book of Eric's Sussex Downs pictures (from the Martello Booshop in Rye?), and revelled not only in the paintings but also the insights into what he was up to at the time.
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You make no mention of the fact that the Towner is now in new premises. To my mind, it was a sad day when the "old" Towner was closed down. The new gallery has no character, and could be in any European/North American city, whereas the old gallery, with it's poky rooms, uneven floors and idiosyncratic layout was wonderful. Nor, to the best of my knowledge, will the new gallery have a permanent "Ravilious Room", so I hope you made the most of what was a truly wonderful exhibition.
PS Sorry to sound such a grumpy old git. I really did think the stuff on show was excellent, and well done the Towner for mounting it.
I'm not a huge fan of the new Towner Gallery...or just 'Towner' as they now appear to call it. Rather like the Tate at St.Ives it seems rather lacking in actual hanging space. A bit too brutalist inside for my liking. Upon my first visit there was very little Ravilious on show and I asked one of the staff why, with such a collection, they didn't dedicate a permanent space for him and his contemporaries ...only to be met with the old 'rotating pictures from our collection' stock answer - it's what the public wants. Hmmm! However if you ask they will take you into the store (they said) and you can see anything you wish - presumably with an attendant watching you like a hawk with one eye on his/her watch. Don't like the 'Towner' identity either for what it's worth.
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