The Christmas 2012 Catalogue - Denzil Grant Antiques

Dimensions:Basket of ApplesHeight: 46cms(18inches)Width: 56cms(22inches)Reference: DG40Dimensions:Lemons andOrange in BlueBowlHeight: 43cms(17inches)Width: 54.5cms(21.5inches)Reference: DG41Two Still Life Paintings by Adrian RyanTwo beautiful colourful paintings by Adrian Ryan one ofgreen apples in a basket, the other of lemons and an orangein a blue and white bowl. Both paintings signed ‘Ryan’. Ryanwas born in Hampstead in 1920; his childhood was dividedbetween the family homes of Hintlesham Hall in Suffolk, andVilla Santa Lucia at Cagnes-sur-Mer. Both his parents werepainters, and his father, Vivian Ryan, who was deaf anddumb, particularly encouraged him. After Eton, he trainedbriefly as an architect before joining the Slade during itswartime evacuation in Oxford. His first studio in Tite Streetwas shared with Augustus John's son Edwin. Ryan wastaken up by Rex Nan Kivell at the Redfern Gallery, whogave him his first exhibition in 1943; four more followedduring the next decade. He painted landscapes of Cornwall,France and later Suffolk rendered in vivid colour, with free,expressive brush strokes. Still-lifes however provided hisfavourite subjects (he wrote a short handbook on still-lifepainting) in particular of oysters, crayfish, herrings, seafood,and fruit. These he showed regularly with the London Groupand at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibitions. He wasgiven exhibitions at the Minories in Colchester in 1964 and1985 and two shows under the auspices of the NationalTrust, "A Kettle of Fish" at Sutton House in London in1994 and "Four Seasons" at Petworth the following year,introducing him to a new audience. Although his work wasbought by the Tate Gallery and by public museums abroad,much of the best remains in private hands. English, circa1960.