John Walton RP (1925-2023) - 1950 Oil Lady in Blue

Description

An evocative mid-20th-century portrait of a pensive lady in blue by the established portrait artist John Walton RP (1925–2023). Rendered in soft, hazy brushwork, Walton gently illuminates the subject against a delicate backdrop of William Morris wallpaper. This work represents an early and distinctive example of Walton’s oeuvre. Works by Walton are held by the University of Cambridge and the Hunterian Museum. Signed and dated to the lower right. Well presented in a gilt frame. On board.

Condition

The condition is typical for a picture of this age, including some light discolouration to the varnish, fine craquelure to the surface, and light abrasions throughout. The frame shows signs of wear consistent with age, including scuffs and small losses throughout. Slight separation to the mitre joints.

Size

40 x 30cm (15.7" x 11.8")
Framed Size: 50 x 40cm (19.7" x 15.7")

Artist Biography

Born in Birkenhead, Wirral, Walton studied at the Ruskin School of Drawing, Oxford, under Albert Rutherston from 1944 to 1945. He then continued his education at the Slade School of Fine Art, which had returned to London after World War II. From 1945 to 1949, he studied under Randolph Schwabe and William Coldstream, earning the Melville Nettleship Prize for Figure Composition in 1948. In 1974, he became Principal of the Heatherley School of Fine Art and was elected a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP) in 1978. Walton exhibited widely, including at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, the Paris Salon, the Académie des Beaux-Arts, and at venues across the UK and France. He served as a Governor of the Federation of British Artists from 1983 to 1996, and as its Chairman from 1990 to 1996.