Michael Ayrton, British 1921-1975- Table Still life, 1954; oil on...

Michael Ayrton, British 1921-1975- Table Still life, 1954; oil on board, signed and dated 54, 69 x 110cm(ARR) Provenance: Christie's, London 20th March 2014 lot 73; Bonhams, London, 2nd June 2015 lot 89; Private collection, London. Note: Michael Ayrton was born in London and began his painting career at the age of 14. Ayrton travelled widely around Europe and spent much time in Italy where, in the 1940s, he was inspired by the works of the Quattrocento painters, particularly Piero della Francesca. He became preoccupied with Greek mythology after a visit to Cumae, with regular travels to Greece after 1957 influencing his subsequent artwork. Although Ayrton continued to draw, producing etchings and lithographs throughout his career, from 1955 sculpture became his preferred medium, with his many bronzes of famous mythical characters such as the Minotaur and Daedalus and Icarus remaining his best-known works.