A large and intriguing figurative oil by British artist Annie Newnham (d.2010), combining theatrical narrative with loose, expressive handling and an enigmatic interior. At the centre stands a uniformed figure wearing a peaked military-style cap, surrounded by a cast of partially defined characters. A semi-nude figure stands behind, while another is seated at the right beside a table laid with a teapot, bottle and plate. The title, Act I Scene II, reinforces the theatrical character of the painting, although the precise production and narrative have not been identified.
Details
Artist: Annie Newnham (d.2010)
Title: Act I Scene II
Medium: Oil on canvas
Signature: Signed with initials
Artwork size: 76 x 106.5 cm (29.9 x 41.9 in)
Framed size: 91 x 122 cm (35.8 x 48.0 in)
Provenance: Bears CCA (Christie's Contemporary Art) Gallery label to the reverse of the frame.
Condition: Artwork in very good condition. Frame shows some signs of light handling wear.
Act I Scene II
Newnham constructs the composition through broad areas of blue, turquoise, green and violet, punctuated by warmer flesh tones. Individual faces are largely suppressed, allowing posture, costume and placement to carry the narrative. There is a distinctly stage-like quality to the arrangement. The central figure's clothing has the appearance of a European military-style uniform, although no particular play or character has been securely identified.
About the Artist
Annie Newnham (d.2010) was a British painter, illustrator and printmaker whose work centred particularly on the human figure. She studied at the Royal Academy and developed a figurative practice in oils alongside atmospheric linocuts and illustration.
After spending time in Hong Kong, Newnham returned to Britain and continued her artistic development in Oxfordshire. She was a long-standing member of the Oxford Art Society and became associated with Dennis Hall and the Inky Parrot Press. Cambridge University Library records her illustrations for Roger McGough's Pen Pals (1994) and Ted Hughes's Comics (1997).
Her recorded oils include portraits, interiors and multi-figure compositions. Other documented works include Elegant Parade, Nancy Carline and Naiads. A surviving Royal West of England Academy label for Naiads documents Newnham's connection with the RWA and records her Eynsham, Oxfordshire address. Her figurative paintings are characterised by expressive colour, loosely constructed forms and an interest in human interaction and narrative.
