Mary Fedden R.A. (1915-2012).
'A Basket of Lemons' 1971
Lithograph in Colours. Signed. 3/70. Published by Curwen Press.
Image: 55x77cm. Framed 63x83cm
(Reference 1004) Price: £1,200
A lithograph of this subject is in the collection of the Tate Gallery, London.
This gentle image of soft blues and dove grey shadow is brought into focus by the sharp zingyness of the lemons.
Mary Fedden was born in Bristol on 14th August 1915. She adored art from a very young age and determined to be an artist. Mary left Badminton school at 16, for the Slade School of Art in London, where she studied under Vladimir Polunin, who had worked with the Ballet Russes. She worked for a time painting sets at Sadlers Wells, but returned to Bristol and painted portraits for an income. WW2 bought service in the Land Army and in 1944, Mary was called up to work as a driver abroad for NAAFI. The end of war brought a return to painting and Mary worked on various commissions including painting covers for Woman magazine. 1947 brought her first exhibition at the Mansard Gallery in Heal’s Department store. In 1951, Mary Fedden married the artist, Julian Trevelyan and they travelled widely together in Europe, Africa, India, Russia and America. From the late 1950s, Mary taught painting at the Royal College of Art. In 1992 she was elected to the Royal Academy. A member of the Royal West of England Academy at Bristol since the 1930s and President from 1984-88. Mary Fedden was made OBE in 1997.
Mary Fedden’s paintings are held in public and private collections throughout the world, including those of the Queen and the Tate.
Note: the apparent lines down the sides of the image are merely reflection in the glass. The image is of an even colour.
