John Rattenbury Skeaping RA, British 1901–1980 - Standing nude, 1936;...

John Rattenbury Skeaping RA,
British 1901–1980 -

Standing nude, 1936;

red chalk on paper, signed and dated in pencil lower left 'John Skeaping 36', 33 x 22.7 cm (ARR)

Provenance:
Notanda Gallery, Sydney;
Mrs Carl Plate, NSW;
private collection, purchased c.1980

Note:
the present work was made in the years following his divorce from Barbara Hepworth and demonstrates his highly rounded and simplified approach to the human form that defined his early sculpture. Following the example of Gaudier-Brzeska, Speaking and Hepworth looked to non-Western forms to create their pioneering work, based on direct carving. During this period Speaking was a member of and exhibited with important groups such as the London Group and the Seven and Five Society.

Notanda Gallery was run by Australia artist Carl Plate in the 1940s, which exhibited Modernist British artists during the period including Henry Moore and Paul Nash. The gallery had been established by Margo Lewers, whose husband, the sculptor Gerald Lewers, had studied under Skeaping in London.