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

The building shown in this work appears to be the barn at Cwm Cynfal, Snowdonia. A drawing of the same subject appeared in Piper’s article ‘Colour and Texture’ written for the Architectural Review, Vol. XCV 566, February 1944: the piece highlighted the aesthetic appeal of the weathering of stone buildings, as observed by the Victorian art critic John Ruskin whose outlook had an enduring appeal for Piper. The drawing on the reverse, interesting in its own right, is of Ffynnon Llugwy, one of Piper’s Snowdonia subjects which is also represented by a completed work in the collection of the British Council and dated 1949. However the on-the-spot drawing and inscription in the present lot is likely to date from the time of Piper’s early excursion to the region, in 1943.

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