Pat Albeck (1930-2017) - 20th Century Watercolour Italian Landscape

Description

A wonderful elevated view across an Italian landscape, featuring rolling hills and cypress trees, a rare original artwork by the prominent artist and designer Pat Albeck. Signed in graphite to the lower-right edge. On blindstamped Saunders Waterford watercolour paper with deckled edges.

Condition

In fine condition.

Size

27.8 x 40.6cm (10.9" x 16")
Sheet: 31.3 x 43.5cm (12.3" x 17.1")

Artist Biography

Pat Albeck (1930-2017) was a prolific and gifted designer of printed textiles whose genius for flat pattern also took her into design for ceramics, wallpapers and a wide range of merchandise for the National Trust. Her Daisychain design for John Lewis, a nod to William Morris, the artist who had featured strongly in her childhood, was a best-seller for 15 years, regularly produced in different colourways, and in later life she mentored many younger designers who ended up at the top of their professions. In the 1970s she began her longstanding association with the National Trust, introduced by her Hammersmith neighbour the artist Mary Fedden, whose cousin Robin Fedden was then the trust's director. Her work for the organisation included her famous tea towels, whose intricate narrative charm often led them to be framed by purchasers and she became affectionately known as 'the queen of the tea towel'. By the 1980s she was creating whole ranges of Coordinated products, from table mats to desk accessories, usually inspired by a detail in a specific trust property. Albeck worked literally until the end of her life. She sat on design committees and was an examiner for many art schools. Her archives are in the Victoria and Albert Museum.