26th Feb, 2019 10:00
Modern British and 20th Century Art
151
▲ William Mitchell (b.1925) EAGLES - 'AND THE FIRST BEAST WAS LIKE A LION AND THE SECOND BEAST LIKE A CALF; AND THE THIRD BEAST HAD A FACE AS A MAN AND THE FOURTH BEAST WAS AS A FLYING EAGLE
EAGLES - 'AND THE FIRST BEAST WAS LIKE A LION AND THE SECOND BEAST LIKE A CALF; AND THE THIRD BEAST HAD A FACE AS A MAN AND THE FOURTH BEAST WAS AS A FLYING EAGLE, AND THE FOUR BEASTS HAD EACH OF THEM SIX WINGS ABOUT HIM AND THEY WERE FULL OF EYES WITHIN' - THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS
Two original copies of the maquettes for the large relief panels flanking the main doors of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool
Fibreglass with bronzed patina
30 x 30cm (2)
William Mitchell was born in London in 1925. With the advent of the Second World War, he joined the Royal Navy, where he began creating painted murals on refurbished club and canteen buildings. Keen to pursue a career in classical restoration, he continued his studies after the war, graduating from the Royal College of Arts during the mid-1950s. His sculpture during the 1960s and 70s was experimental, though popular, but despite working on numerous large-scale murals and public works of art, Mitchell is considered by some to be one of the most unrecognised of 20th century British sculptors. It is only recently that his work is being appreciated, with English Heritage recently awarding thirteen of his sculptures with Grade II listed status.
Construction of Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral began in 1962. Commissioned by the Cathedral's architect, Sir Frederick Gibberd, Mitchell made a pair of maquettes for approval, making a second pair for himself which he used during the construction of the bronze-faced fibreglass panels. The originals remain in Mitchell's personal archives, but he has donated this pair to be auctioned on behalf of the charity Home Start, Chichester branch, to raise funds to continue their valuable work in the community.
Differing in some respects from the final design within the Cathedral, each has nevertheless been dated and signed by the sculptor, and they are accompanied by signed documents of authentication.
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Sold for £850
Condition Report
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Auction: Modern British and 20th Century Art, 26th Feb, 2019
Viewing
22 February 2019 9am - 5pm
24 February 2019 10am - 1pm
25 February 2019 9am - 5pm
26 February 2019 from 9am
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