Hugo grenville H A r M o n i A

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Reynard Griffin
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1 Hugo Grenville HARMONIA

Hugo Grenville In the fall of last year I visited an exhibition in Paris entitled French Art 1937-1946.

2 Hugo Grenville In the fall of last year I visited an exhibition in Paris entitled French Art In the middle of a huge display arranged across eight galleries of drawings, paintings and sculptures charting the horrors of Fascism, Collaboration, and the Holocaust, was a small room in which were hung two paintings by Bonnard, two by Matisse. They were painted in 1942, when Nazi jackboots clattered down the Promenade des Anglais, food was scarce, and the darkest of shadows lay across Europe. These paintings made no reference to the turbulence and destruction of the War; instead, they emanated peace, tranquility and quiet joy, a celebration of life found in the beauty of small things: flowers, fruit, fabrics. They seemed to stand as an altar to hopefulness in a world compromised by greed, violence and cruelty; concerned not with the here and now, but with the grace and spirituality of eternity. We live again in troubled times, but the paintings in this catalogue are inspired by the belief that the recognition of beauty can be transformative, that we can be uplifted by it, and that we can celebrate its sheer delight. There is both comfort and pleasure to be found in the harmonies of colour and the balancing of shapes. The arrangement of light, line, and the selection of different palettes, that work like the limitations imposed by a key and time signature in music. They are tools to express a sense of hopefulness and optimism, of contemplation and serenity. Most of the paintings are born from my drawings and evoked from a combination of memory, observation and imagination. The use of gold leaf, inspired by early Renaissance painting and Byzantine mosaics, prevents the literal depiction of an object and enhances the sense of interpretation. Depending upon where the viewer stands, the light affects the gold leaf differently, sometimes scintillating, sometimes restrained and dark, so that the surface of the painting is always in motion, its mood flitting between the contemplative and the joyful.

3 Figures The arrangement of light, line, and the selection of different palettes, that work like the limitations imposed by a key and time signature in music, are tools to express a sense of hopefulness and optimism, of contemplation and serenity.

134878 Corner of the Studio, Autumn Afternoon 36 x 34 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

4 Corner of the Studio, Autumn Afternoon 36 x 34 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

134880 In Reflection, Studio Interior, Morning 48 x 54 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

6 In Reflection, Studio Interior, Morning 48 x 54 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

134883 Odalisque 42 x 60 inches Oil and gold leaf on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

8 Odalisque 42 x 60 inches Oil and gold leaf on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

134881 Girl Sitting, Fading Light, Autumn Afternoon II 32 x 42 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

10 Girl Sitting, Fading Light, Autumn Afternoon II 32 x 42 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH FL, (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK NY, (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

12 Still Life These paintings... they emanated peace, tranquillity and quiet joy, a celebration of life found in the beauty of small things: flowers, fruit, fabrics.

134901 My Surrogate Friend 36 x 34 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

13 My Surrogate Friend 36 x 34 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

134888 Autumn Splendour 36 x 28 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

15 Autumn Splendour 36 x 28 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

134902 Summer Evening on the Mediterranean 36 x 28 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

17 Summer Evening on the Mediterranean 36 x 28 inches Oil on canvas WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

Drawings The drawings shown here are the starting point for later paintings; I generally make several drawings before I feel ready to start to paint.

19 Drawings The drawings shown here are the starting point for later paintings; I generally make several drawings before I feel ready to start to paint. The intention of the drawing is to explore firstly the mood of the subject, then to begin to work out the composition, that crucial division of pictorial space, upon which the success of the painting depends. Sometimes I suggest thoughts about colour: although these notes often change as I move from the drawing phase to the painting. But much of the essence of the final work is expressed in the early drawings.

134909 Arabella, Reclining Nude 21 x 28 inches Charcoal and chalk on paper WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

20 Arabella, Reclining Nude 21 x 28 inches Charcoal and chalk on paper WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

134904 Study of a Girl Reading (diptych) 25 x 25 inches Charcoal and chalk on paper WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

22 Study of a Girl Reading (diptych) 25 x 25 inches Charcoal and chalk on paper WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

134907 Sleeping Nude 21 x 27 inches Charcoal and chalk on paper WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

24 Sleeping Nude 21 x 27 inches Charcoal and chalk on paper WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

134905 Study for La Rêve 21 1/2 x 28 inches Pencil and charcoal on paper WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

26 Study for La Rêve 21 1/2 x 28 inches Pencil and charcoal on paper WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

About the Artist: Hugo Grenville was born in 1958. Although he first exhibited in London at the Chelsea Arts Society at the age of 15, it took him another fourteen years to become a full time painter.

28 About the Artist: Hugo Grenville was born in Although he first exhibited in London at the Chelsea Arts Society at the age of 15, it took him another fourteen years to become a full time painter. After leaving school he traveled the Hippy Trail to India, ran out of money, joined the Coldstream Guards and served as an officer in Northern Ireland, West Africa and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) during the Civil War, and finally as an Aide-de-Camp to C-in-C British Army of the Rhine, during which time he painted whenever possible, and studied part-time at Chelsea School of Art and Heatherley s. Working first in advertising and then as an art dealer, he finally submitted to the need to paint full time in Since then he has held fourteen one-man Shows (including eight with Messum s on Cork St and recently with Wally Findlay International in New York and Palm Beach) and has painted portraits of leading figures including the late Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Runcie, and the counter-tenor Michael Chance in the role of Orpheus at the ENO. He writes regularly for The Artist magazine, and lectures both in London and at his summer school on Colour and Twentieth Century Painting. Commisions: Working as an Official War Artist in Bosnia during the final phase of the Balkans War Making a very large painting of the Tercentenary Celebrations at Chatsworth for the late Duke of Devonshire Working at English National Opera with Counter-Tenor Michael Chance on a painting of Orpheus and Eurydice. Producing a major Millenium picture of the casting process in an iron foundry for the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers

29 Exhibitions: One Man Shows 1991 New King s Road Gallery 1992 The Newbury: Featured Artist of Newbury Festival 1992 Smith s Gallery, London 1994 Oliver Swann Gallery, London 1995 Oliver Swann Gallery, London 1995 China Club, Hong Kong 1997 Messum s, London 1999 Messum s, London 2000 Messum s, London 2001 Messum s, London 2002 Messum s, London 2003 Messum s, London 2005 Messum s, London 2006 Wally Findlay Galleries International, New York 2007 Josie Eastwood Fine Art, London 2009 Wally Findlay Galleries International, Palm Beach 2010 Josie Eastwood Fine Art, London 2011 Wally Findlay Galleries Palm Beach 2012 Medici Gallery, London Group Shows During the past 20 years he has exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Institute of Painters in Oil, Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, the Arts Club and numerous other galleries including recently the Morningside Gallery in Edinburgh, Cricket Fine Art in London and Josie Eastwood Fine Art in Hampshire. Collections: Work is represented in corporate, institutional and private collections in UK, USA, Canada, France, Hong Kong and Australia, including: Edinburgh City Council The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers The Ministry of Defence The China Club, Hong Kong The Tresco Estate Pembroke Management The Duke of Devonshire Searcy s Duke s Hotel, St James s The Earl of Verulam

30 For additional information and pricing please contact the gallery Palm Beach New York WALLY FINDLAY GALLERIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 165 WORTH AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL (561) EAST 57 t h STREET, NEW YORK, NY (212) w w w.wa l ly f i n d l ay.com

FINDLAY GALLERIES. w a l l y f i n d l a y d a v i d f i n d l a y j r

FINDLAY GALLERIES. w a l l y f i n d l a y d a v i d f i n d l a y j r FINDLAY GALLERIES w a l l y f i n d l a y d a v i d f i n d l a y j r Dear Friends and Collectors, We hope you will find the time to view and enjoy the pages that follow. We have curated a selection of