John Northcote Nash, R.A. (1893-1977)

The present work was painted near Wormingford Mill.

'In 1967 the Royal Academy accorded him [Nash] a unique tribute: a retrospective exhibition of his work featuring 263 oils, watercolours, pen-and-ink drawings and illustrated books. It was the first in its series of works by living members to be held in the Main Gallery. John devoted several months to its selection ...' (Sir J. Rothenstein, John Nash, London, 1983). The present work was chosen to appear in the Retrospective. 'The Royal Academy exhibition was immediately followed by another at the Minories, Colchester ... It was enthusiastically received: the artist was a local man, much loved and respected, and his work evoked genuine admiration. The review in the local paper, The Colchester Express contained this simple, yet pertinent tribute: "A painting by John Nash is like a sentence spoken by a gentleman, perfectly enunciated, quiet, complete, yet with a certain reserve about it as of things left unsaid"' (Ibid. p. 108).