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Lot Essay
Following the success of Dusk (Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne) at the Royal Academy in 1903, Clausen began a series of atmospheric landscapes depicting farm ponds and wayside brooks. Sunset (1907, Harris Museum, Preston) develops the theme, and it was followed by the present example in which a fiery sun peeps through trees and bushes, spreading a carpet of vivid greens, pinks and blues across the foreground. The bravura of these works greatly appealed to C.T. Harris of Denmark Hill, the wealthy benefactor of Kings College Hospital. In these years Harris was a familiar visitor to Clausen’s studio and having purchased the magisterial Building a Rick (1907, Birmingham Museums) and several other pictures he went on to acquire Tranquil Sunset on 30 March 1911 for £100. Payment was received on 26 April 1911.
Geoffrey Blackwell, at this point, was exclusively devoted to Steer and had just commissioned his wife’s portrait (see lot 182). Within the next two years however, he was widening his interests in dialogue with James Bolivar Manson, future director of the Tate Gallery. By the time Manson’s article appeared there were works by Charles Conder, DY Cameron, Ambrose McEvoy and John Singer Sargent, as well as Clausen in the collection.
KMc.
Geoffrey Blackwell, at this point, was exclusively devoted to Steer and had just commissioned his wife’s portrait (see lot 182). Within the next two years however, he was widening his interests in dialogue with James Bolivar Manson, future director of the Tate Gallery. By the time Manson’s article appeared there were works by Charles Conder, DY Cameron, Ambrose McEvoy and John Singer Sargent, as well as Clausen in the collection.
KMc.