Original London Oil Painting
David Sawyer RBA (born 1961) - Oil on Board
“Late Afternoon, Trafalgar Square”
A substantial and highly atmospheric London oil painting depicting Trafalgar Square in the clear light of a late afternoon.
Key Details
Artist: David Sawyer RBA (born 1961)
Title: Late Afternoon, Trafalgar Square
Date: 2006
Medium: Oil on board
Signature: Signed lower right
Board Size: 45.7 × 61 cm (18 × 24 in)
Visible Image: approximately 44.5 × 59.7 cm (17.5 × 23.5 in)
Framed Size: 63 × 78 cm (24.8 × 30.7 in)
Frame: Painted moulded frame with gilt detailing
Condition: Excellent overall condition, both the artwork and frame
Provenance: Panter & Hall, 9 Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London
Panter & Hall Stock Number: 6353
Description
Nelson’s Column forms the central focus of the composition, with St Martin-in-the-Fields visible beyond and the monumental architecture of the square enclosing the scene on either side.
Sawyer introduces passing pedestrians, traffic and deep foreground shadows to create a convincing impression of the city in motion. The painting is particularly effective in its contrast between warmly lit stone buildings and the intense blue sky.
His loose, assured brushwork gives definition to the principal landmarks without making the view feel rigid or overly architectural. At 18 × 24 inches, this is a substantial example of Sawyer’s London work.
The artwork and frame are both in excellent overall condition and the painting is ready to hang.
About the Artist
David Sawyer RBA was born in London in 1961 and grew up in Margate, Kent. He studied Fine Art at Canterbury College of Art during the early 1980s and has worked continuously as a professional artist since graduating, including an early period working as a scene painter.
Sawyer describes his work as belonging to the modern British Impressionist tradition. He is particularly associated with architectural subjects and the effects of changing light on buildings, streets and historic city spaces. His subjects include London, Oxford, York, Venice, Mediterranean towns and the British landscape.
He was elected to the Royal Society of British Artists in 2004 and has exhibited extensively through British art societies and established commercial galleries. Panter & Hall have represented him for many years and have held dedicated exhibitions of his work.
His commissions have included London paintings for a City boardroom and works for the State Rooms aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. In 2019 he accompanied the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on their Caribbean tour as an official tour artist.
Provenance and Notes
The original Panter & Hall labels remain attached to the reverse. They identify the work as Late Afternoon, Trafalgar Square, record the painting as an 18 × 24 inch oil on board, and give the gallery stock number 6353.
A separate stock label numbered 29/06 dates the work to 2006. The painting belongs firmly within Sawyer’s established body of London cityscapes.
