Gertrude Brodie's 'View from my Essex window'

 

I am sure readers will remember the second of two posts about a series of conte crayon and gouache drawings by the Essex artist and teacher, Gertrude Brodie, which I called 'The lamps of Settle'. I am pleased to say yet another drawing by this sensitive artist appeared on the British auction calendar in November, this time an intimate and subtle view of the Essex countryside from the artist's bedroom window.

The picture went up for sale in Scarborough in November, but apparently did not sell. The auction certainly had no sale price up and presumably it didn't reach its reserve. This can be the only explanation because, as you see, the work was drawn to the same high standard as my own The hill over Settle and Castle Hill, Settle (below).

 

The device of looking from a window was employed by a number of British C20th artists, including Lucien Pissarro, Arthur Rigden Read, Claughton Pellew and John Nash. I hardly need to say that Brodie is classic Modern Printmakers, a skilled, rather literary artist whose talent was ignored when British art became pseudo-modern. Fortunately, provincial auction houses take note of Modern Printmakers and put Brodie into some kind of a context when they offer her work for sale. Admittedly, that doesn't happen very often. Castle Hill, Settle went for £460. Please take note. Because there will be more.