British Masters
The Artists Who Shaped Modern Britain
Saturday 4th July - Saturday 1st August
This July, The Paragon Gallery presents British Masters, an exceptional exhibition that celebrates the enduring power and intimacy of work by some of the most influential figures in 20th century British art.
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Forged in an era of abrupt technological change, global conflict and unprecedented social upheaval, Modern British art represented a fierce determination to expand the language of visual art into a brave new world. This innovation was particularly visible through the practice of printmaking, which allowed artists to explore creative possibilities not available in any other medium. Bringing together a wide variety of original prints made using a range of techniques, this exhibition traces the development of some of Britain’s most acclaimed artists through their engagement with landscape, abstraction and the human figure.
The exhibition will feature original pieces by Henry Moore, Elisabeth Frink, L. S. Lowry, Eric Ravilious, Julian Trevelyan, Mary Fedden, Sir Terry Frost, John Piper, Graham Sutherland and David Hockney, among others. These superlative artworks offer a keen insight into one of the most exciting periods in Britain’s artistic history, when painters, sculptors and printmakers reconfigured our visual lexicon and stood at the vanguard of the international avant garde.
From Moore’s powerful exploration of form through the etching needle and Frink’s brilliant draughtsmanship with lithographic crayon, to the lyrical Englishness of Ravilious and the joyous sunlit compositions of Terry Frost, these works reveal the immediacy and inventiveness of the Modern eye. The distinct visual languages of these artists continue to resonate with contemporary audiences and to inspire makers in the 21st century.
British Masters celebrates a rich visual narrative and presents a rare opportunity to experience a carefully curated array of works by some of Britain’s most celebrated artists. The exhibition will continue until Saturday 1st August.
Lithograph, 1988
Unsigned
Edition of 40
Paper size: 64 × 82.3cm
£2250 Framed
A printer’s proof aside from the edition of 40. Blind stamped from the archive of Curwen Master Printer Stanley Jones.
Etching and aquatint, 1981
Signed
Edition of 100
Image size: 39.9 × 32.7cm
£3250 Framed
The third print in The Seasons series.
Watercolour, ink, pencil and wax resist on paper, 1975
Unsigned
Unique
Paper size: 39 × 58.5cm
£14,000 Framed
A preparatory painting for the lithograph of the same name printed in 1976 at the Curwen Studio. From the archive of Stanley Jones.
Etching, 1988
Signed
Edition of 100
Image size: 39.5 × 51.5cm
£3750 Framed
Etching, aquatint and soft-ground scrim wipe from 1 zinc and 2 steel plates, 1969-70
Signed
Edition of 75
Image size: 35 × 48cm
£1450 Framed
From the London Parks suite.
Etching, aquatint and soft-ground scrim wipe from 3 steel plates, 1969
Signed
Edition of 75
Image size: 35 × 47.8cm
£1450 Framed
From the Thames Suite.
Etching, aquatint and soft-ground etching, 1964
Signed
Edition of 75
Image size: 35 × 47.5cm
£1950 Framed
Lithograph, c1940s
Unsigned
Paper size: 49.5 × 76cm
£750 Framed
From the School Prints series.
Etching and Aquatint, 1969
Suite: Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Unsigned
Edition of 400
Paper size: 38.5 × 27cm
£2750 Framed
From the story The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear. Printed by the Print Shop, Amsterdam and published by Petersburg Press, London.
Etching and Aquatint, 1969
Suite: Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Unsigned
Edition of 400
Image size: 33.5 × 15cm
£2250 Framed
From the story Rapunzel. Printed by the Print Shop, Amsterdam and published by Petersburg Press, London.
Etching and Aquatint, 1969
Suite: Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Unsigned
Edition of 400
Paper size: 44.7 × 32.4cm
£1200 Framed
From the story Rumpelstilzchen. Printed by the Print Shop, Amsterdam and published by Petersburg Press, London.
Etching and Aquatint, 1969
Suite: Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Unsigned
Edition of 400
Image size: 28 × 12cm
£1250 Framed
From the story Fundevogel. Printed by the Print Shop, Amsterdam and published by Petersburg Press, London.
Offset lithograph, 1988
Signed in black ink
Paper size: 86 × 59.5cm
£2500 Framed
This hand-signed poster was produced to accompany an exhibition of Hockney’s work from private collections, held at London’s Editions Graphiques gallery from October - November 1988.
Etching and Aquatint, 1966
Suite: Illustrations for Fourteen Poems from C.P. Cavafy
Unsigned
Edition of 500
Image size: 34.5 × 22.2cm
£950 Framed
Etching and Aquatint, 1966
Suite: Illustrations for Fourteen Poems from C.P. Cavafy
Unsigned
Edition of 500
Image size: 34.5 × 22cm
£1250 Framed
Etching and Aquatint, 1966
Suite: Illustrations for Fourteen Poems from C.P. Cavafy
Unsigned
Edition of 500
Image size: 34.5 × 22cm
£950 Framed
Etching and Aquatint, 1969
Suite: Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Unsigned
Edition of 400
Image size: 26.5 × 16.5cm
£1750 Framed
From the story The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear. Printed by the Print Shop, Amsterdam and published by Petersburg Press, London.
Etching and Aquatint, 1969
Suite: Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Unsigned
Edition of 400
Image size: 44.5 × 32.2cm
£1950 Framed
From the story The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear. Printed by the Print Shop, Amsterdam and published by Petersburg Press, London.
Etching and Aquatint, 1969
Suite: Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Unsigned
Edition of 400
Image size: 44 × 32.5cm
£1950 Framed
From the story Old Rinkrank. Printed by the Print Shop, Amsterdam and published by Petersburg Press, London.
Etching and Aquatint, 1969
Suite: Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Unsigned
Edition of 400
Image size: 23 × 26.8cm
£1500 Framed
From the story Old Rinkrank. Printed by the Print Shop, Amsterdam and published by Petersburg Press, London.
Intaglio with carborundum in colours, with hand-colouring in egg tempera, 1986-87
Signed, dated and numbered in pencil
Paper size: 47.5 × 65cm
£4500 Framed
A printer's proof aside from the edition of one hundred (there were also nine artist's proofs), published by Bernard Jacobson Ltd., London.
Lithograph, 1965
Signed
Paper size: 57.5 × 80.5cm
£1950 Framed
Original signed lithograph, drawn on stone, 1965. From the Spinning Man series. A printer's proof aside from an edition of 20 only. Blind stamped from the archive of Curwen Master Printer Stanley Jones. Printed at Curwen Studio on Barcham Green Crisbrook paper, published by Curwen Prints. Exhibited at the King's Lynn Festival, Fermoy Gallery, Peace to Pop exhibition, 2024.
Lithograph, 1982
Signed
Edition of 50
Image size: 64 × 48cm
£1950 Framed
Designed for a fundraising portfolio for the Royal College of Art that incorporated the work of 35 artists. This was Frink’s contribution to the project.
Etching and aquatint, 1972
Suite: Canterbury Tales II
Signed
Edition of 50
Image size: 50 × 34cm
£1950 Framed
One of 10 artist's proofs.
Etching and aquatint, 1972
Suite: Canterbury Tales II
Signed
Edition of 50
Image size: 50 × 34cm
£2250 Framed
One of 10 artist's proofs.
Screenprint, 1974
Unsigned
Paper size: 84 × 59.5cm
£950 Framed
Original screenprinted exhibition poster, designed for an exhibition of Paolozzi's work at the Kestner-Gesellschaft in Hannover.
Photolithograph, 1970
Suite: General Dynamic F.U.N.
Signed
Edition of 350
Image size: 38 × 24.5cm
£950 Framed
Screenprint, 1967
Suite: Moonstrips Empire News Suite, Volume I
Signed
Edition of 500
Image size: 38 × 25cm
£950 Framed
Photolithograph, 1970
Suite: General Dynamic F.U.N.
Signed
Edition of 350
Image size: 38 × 25.4cm
£950 Framed
Set of 24 wood engravings, 1927
Unsigned
Edition of 500
Two framed sets; dimensions for each: 55 × 85cm
£9900 Framed
First frame - January - Sleet & Chopping Wood
February - Polish and Shine & Public House
March - Seven Sisters & Windy Days
April - Showers & Boy with Nest
May - Grasses & Tennis Match
June - The Nest & Swimmer
Second Frame - July - Lightning Storm & Three Horses
August - Bracken & Garden Hammock
September - Berries & Apple Picking
October - Poppies & Two Cats
November - Field Gate & Fireworks
December - Baking & Night time Reading
Screenprint, 1967
Suite: Moonstrips Empire News Suite, Volume I
Signed
Edition of 500
Image size: 38 × 25cm
£950 Framed
Screenprint, 1972
Signed
Paper size: 68 × 51cm
£1500 Framed
A printer’s proof aside from the main edition.
Etching, c1980
Signed
Edition of 25
Image size: 19.5 × 19.5cm
£1250 Framed
Printed by the artist in Newlyn. Only two artist's proofs were made, this being the second.
Screenprint, 1989
Unsigned
Edition of 100
Image: 25 × 14cm
£750 Framed
Original printer’s proof aside from the main edition of 100, which were printed as 'giveaways' to celebrate Curwen Studio’s move to Chilford Hall. From the personal archive of Stanley Jones, Curwen’s master printmaker.
Etching, 1989
Suite: Lorca Suite
Signed
Edition of 75
Paper size: 55.5 × 37.5cm
£1450 Framed
Lithograph, 2006
Signed
Edition of 95
Paper size: 42.7 × 54cm
£1250 Framed
One of 10 artist's proofs aside from the main edition. Blind stamped from the archive of Curwen master printer Stanley Jones. Curwen Chilford blind stamp.
Lithograph, 1940
Suite: The School Prints
Signed in Plate
Paper size: 76 × 49.5cm
£2445 Framed
Punch and Judy is typical of his work, showing ordinary people going about their lives, symbols of 'la danse de vie'. He said of his use of colour, 'I am a simple man and I use simple materials: ivory, black, vermillion, prussian blue, yellow ochre, flake white - and no medium.' This proved to be a very popular print. (1979, Julian Spalding, Lowry, Phaidon.)
Lithograph, 1966
Signed
Edition of 50
Paper size: 25 × 60cm
£2450 Framed
Signed and dated original lithograph
Proof aside from the edition of 50
Printed at the Curwen Studio
Bears the blind stamp from the Archive of Stanley Jones
Lithograph, 1969
Signed
Edition of 210
Paper size: 56 × 44cm
£2450 Framed
Signed and dated original lithograph
Proof aside from the edition of 150
Printed at the Curwen Studio
Bears the blind stamp from the Archive of Stanley Jones
Lithograph, 1978-79
Signed
Edition of 75
Image size: 63.5 × 47.8cm
£2950 Framed
Lithograph, 1979
Signed
Edition of 90
Image size: 47.5 × 58cm
£2950 Framed
Lithograph, 1968
Suite: A Bestiary and Some Correspondences
Stamped signature
Proof aside from the edition of 70
Image size: 66 × 49.5cm
£1750 Framed
Lithograph, 1948
Signed
Edition of 60
Image size: 39 × 56.5cm
£1950 Framed
This version has an extra colour to the illustration in the catalogue raisonné.
Lithograph, 1952
Unsigned
Image size: 61 × 40.4cm
£950 Framed
Original lithographic poster. Printed by Mourlot for the exhibition at the Musée National D'Art Moderne. Laid down on linen for museum conservation.
Lithograph, 1975
Signed
Edition of 100
Image size: 25.4 × 35cm
£2950 Framed
A printer's proof aside from the main edition of 100. Blind stamped from the archive of Curwen Studio’s master printer Stanley Jones, who worked closely with Moore for over twenty years.
Lithograph, 1973
Signed
Edition of 10
Image size: 46.7 × 37.5cm
£4750 Framed
A printer's proof aside from the deluxe edition of 10 printed on Japon nacré paper. The main edition of 50 was printed on Arches paper. Blind stamped from the archive of Curwen Studio’s master printer Stanley Jones, who worked closely with Moore for over twenty years.
Lithograph, 1973
Suite: Reclining Figures Portfolio
Signed
Edition of 10
Image size: 44.2 × 32.1cm
£4750 Framed
A printer's proof aside from the deluxe edition of 10 printed on Japon nacré paper. The main edition of 50 was printed on Arches paper. Blind stamped from the archive of Curwen Studio’s master printer Stanley Jones, who worked closely with Moore for over twenty years.
Lithograph, 1978
Signed
Edition of 50
Image size: 31.1 × 38.4cm
£2950 Framed
A printer's proof aside from the main edition of 50. Inscribed by Moore: ‘For/Curwen/S.J.’. Blind stamped from the archive of Curwen Studio’s master printer Stanley Jones, who worked closely with Moore for over twenty years.
Lithograph, 1973
Signed
Edition of 50
Image size: 42.5 × 33.7cm
£4750 Framed
A printer's proof aside from the main edition of 50 on Arches. Blind stamped from the archive of Curwen Studio’s master printer Stanley Jones, who worked closely with Moore for over twenty years.
Lithograph, 1981
Printed signature
Paper size: 84.5 × 62cm
£1450 Framed
Designed and printed at the Curwen Studio; bears the stamp as a Curwen Studio Proof.
Screenprint, 1990
Suite: White Ware Prints
Signed
Edition of 45
Image size: 79.5 × 53cm
£2250 Framed
Screenprint, 1990
Suite: White Ware Prints
Signed
Edition of 45
Image size: 79.5 × 53cm
£2250 Framed
Screenprint, 1979
Printed signature
Paper size: 84 × 59.5cm
£750 Framed
Original screenprint poster to advertise the Sixth British International Print Biennale, 1979.
Screenprint, 1990
Suite: White Ware Prints
Signed
Edition of 45
Image size: 79.5 × 53cm
£2250 Framed
Wood engraving, 1933
Unsigned
Edition of 250
Image size: 17.8 × 10.7cm
£645 Framed
Wood engraving, 1933
Unsigned
Edition of 250
Image size: 17.8 × 10.7cm
£745 Framed
Wood engraving, 1933
Unsigned
Edition of 250
Image size: 17.8 × 10.7cm
£545 Framed
Etching with aquatint and carborundum, 1989
Signed
Edition of 50
Paper size: 63.5 × 50cm
£1250 Framed
From the Italian Etchings suite.
Etching with aquatint and carborundum, 1989
Signed
Edition of 65
Paper size: 63.5 × 50cm
£1250 Framed
From the Italian Etchings suite.
Etching and aquatint, 1990
Signed
Edition of 40
Paper size: 45 × 50cm
£850 Framed
Or £85 per month using Own Art payable in 10 equal interest free monthly instalments
Etching and aquatint, 1990
Signed
Edition of 40
Paper size: 45 × 50cm
£850 Framed
Or £85 per month using Own Art payable in 10 equal interest free monthly instalments
Etching and aquatint, 1990
Signed
Edition of 40
Paper size: 45 × 50cm
£850 Framed
Or £85 per month using Own Art payable in 10 equal interest free monthly instalments
Six lithographs, 1939
Unsigned
Framed size: 61 × 63cm
£950 Framed
Lithograph, 1970
Signed
Edition of 100
Paper size: 75 × 52.4cm
£1000 Framed
An Hors Commerce proof aside from the main edition of 100. From the Europäische Graphik VII portfolio. Bears the blind stamp from the archive of Curwen master printer Stanley Jones.
Lithograph, 1976
Unsigned
Edition of 40
Paper size: 52.6 × 76.7cm
£2450 Framed
A printer's proof aside from the edition of 40. Part of the Summer Suite portfolio. Printed by Curwen Studio and published by Editions Alecto. Blind-stamped from the archive of Curwen master printer Stanley Jones. Exhibited at the King's Lynn Festival, Fermoy Gallery, Peace to Pop exhibition, 2024.