John Piper, C.H. (1903-1992)

Throughout his career, John Piper was periodically drawn to the distinctive seaside and industrial landscapes of Portland Bill, a rocky mass which juts out from England's Dorset coast: this spartan and angular locality became a subject which he made his own. Many of the best paintings date from the early to mid 1950s. A dozen or so were exhibited in 1955 at the Curt Valentin Gallery, New York (John Piper, February - March 1955) with the catalogue listing a gouache (no. 25) which was an identically titled and dated, but larger version of the present lot.

We are very grateful to Rev. Dr Stephen Laird FSA for preparing this catalogue entry.