HISTORY:
Our family is very much into "the Arts" in all it's forms, from music to art to chinaware and even classic old (quality) technology!
Our focus has always been landscapes, both Australian and New Zealand but along the years we also have some other "interesting" pieces of art that will be seeking new homes as well. This artwork definitely fits the "interesting" genre as we are used to landscapes and decided many years ago to purchase this painting, being something completely different!
Our walls are overloaded with art and it's time to put up some new works so many of our collection must now find new homes to love and cherish them.
This original watercolour by Hargreaves is one of the artworks that doesn't sit well with our "new" collection and it must now find a new home.
It is UNFRAMED (but in sealed cello) and the reasons behind this are below.
HARGREAVES NTUKWANA:
Born in Johannesburg, 1938. He studied with Cecil Scotties at the African School of Art in Harare and then went onto further studies at the Artists' Colony in Toledo, Spain where he studied under the master Costa Lidas. His first one man exhibition took place in London in 1973 and further exhibitions were held in Paris, Munich, Frankfurt, Denhaag and Bonn. In the 1980's he has exhibited in Denmark, Zurich and San Diego in February 1986. He has also exhibited at the Oglethorpe University Art Gallery in Atlanta Georgia towards the end of the 1980's.
This work is an example of his very contemporary technique of blowing diluted oils onto paper, wiping the excess with cloth and cotton swabs then inking over the color background when it is dry. The ink is jet black and appears to be "Indian ink". We believe this one of his earlier works as in later life he suffered from Parkinson's decease and was unable to control the brush as he once did but this artwork is flowing and shows no signs affected brush strokes. He died in 1998.
Hargreaves Ntukwana
South Africa
Diluted Oil/watercolour on paper
THE TITLE IS UNKNOWN SO WE HAVE CALLED IT WOMAN WITH BROOM
The artwork design appears to have a religious themed as evidenced by the eyes looking skyward, this type of gaze was used in many of Hargreaves works.
1970's
The age of the artwork is estimated and based on the period of time that we obtained the painting while in Europe and we do suspect (but do not know for sure) that the four artworks we currently have by Hargreaves were all created while he was learning his techniques in Spain.
Artwork measurements: 174mm wide x 249mm high
This artwork is UNFRAMED. When we purchased this art, it was in a visually horrendous frame, professionally made but terrible looking and we immediately removed the artwork from the frame and put it away until the day we could have it professionally re-framed, but it never happened!
This piece of art deserves a high quality frame, professionally supplied and fitted by a picture framer.
Artwork is undamaged and with no signs of foxing or other marks that shouldn't be there!
The rear is very interesting, the paints have bled onto the rear a little (if ever the authenticity was in doubt!) and there is a "water mark" pressed (not printed) in the paper - it reads
as a MIRROR IMAGE and seems to be
A(strange stylised A) 5 FA(unreadable)
It is not easy to read and because it is a mirror image, you need a mirror to try and decipher it - plus it is very faint!
I believe this a code for the paper stock used
But that is not all! Continuing across from this watermark is part of the word COTTON but only the O (partial) TTON can be faintly viewed HOWEVER it looks as though the diluted oils technique being studied and practised by Hargreaves has allowed this part of the watermark to show through to the front of the artwork, you can see the letters (although fairly faint) lower right hand area of the front (see the photograph)
You can't get much more authentic than that!
I have undertaken some watermark research and also compared with other watermarks on the other artworks I am advertising from Hargreaves and I actually believe this art paper is likely to be
A5 FABRIANO which is a very well known art paper from Italy favoured by artists, particularly those working with watercolour.
Also on the rear is the obvious remnants of the old tape which held the artwork within the original frame border cardboard.
Fully insured shipping is no problem, we take great care in packing especially delicate items such as this painting and being unframed, it is much easier and lower cost to ship than if it had the frame supplied.
