Peter Lanyon (1918-1964)

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The picturesque town of St Ives, Cornwall, has long been a haven for artists, with its rugged coastline and unique light providing endless inspiration. In 1928, artists Ben Nicholson and Christopher Wood visited St Ives, where they encountered the naïve artist Alfred Wallis. By the outbreak of the Second World War, Nicholson and his new wife, Barbara Hepworth, had settled in the area. Their presence, along with that of Naum Gabo, attracted other artists, solidifying St Ives’ reputation as an artistic hub.

^{▲ Peter Lanyon (1918-1964), Porthleven, 1962 (£120,000 - £150,000)}

Around 1950, a cohort of younger artists began to congregate in St Ives, including Terry Frost and Patrick Heron, joining forces with Hepworth and Nicholson. Despite not viewing themselves as a formal group or school, these artists shared a common interest in abstraction and a deep appreciation for the local landscape, which profoundly inspired much of their work.

Unique in this group was Peter Lanyon, as he was a native of St Ives. Lanyon’s artistic journey began with private lessons from artist Robert Borlase Smart, followed by studies at the Penzance School of Art, and a brief spell at the Euston Road School in London. His artistic career was interrupted by the Second World War, during which he served in the Royal Air Force. He was subsequently an active participant of the Crypt group and was a founder member of the Penwith School of Art in 1949.

^{▲ Peter Lanyon (1918-1964), Untitled (Playtime), c.1964 (£35,000-45,000)}

Lanyon’s work in the 1940s shows the influence of both Ben Nicholson and Naum Gabo, but he later took on a unique style of his own. This evolving style, which combined elements of constructivism and abstract expressionism, was distinctive though, through his interpretation of the Cornish landscape. As he captured the essence of Cornwall’s dramatic coastline and rugged terrain, for the viewer, his paintings reveal his deep connection to the land and sea. With the monoprints, drawings and paintings on offer in lots 9-16, we see Lanyon portraying the natural environment with a sense of movement and energy.

^{▲ Peter Lanyon (1918-1964), Composition with horse and boat (£6,000-8,000)}

Lanyon took up gliding in 1959 to gain a deeper understanding of the landscape. Floating on the natural air currents was an immersive experience for the artist, akin to being a bird. Moving through the air, without the noise and disturbance of a motorised aircraft, allowed him a bird’s-eye view of the landscape, which he captured in his work. Disastrously, the activity that fuelled his creativity also led to his demise; Lanyon died from injuries sustained in a gliding accident on 31 August 1964, in Taunton.

Although his life was tragically cut short, Peter Lanyon’s unique creative contributions have firmly established his place in the history of British art. Sworders are pleased to offer ten diverse works by the artist, many depicting Cornwall, including drawings, monotypes, two extraordinary reliefs, and an important, epic 9-metre-long gouache of Porthleven.

Tuesday 15 April | 10am

pictures@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778

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