John Bulloch Souter (1890-1972)
| Artist Name | John Bulloch Souter (1890-1972) |
|---|---|
| Title | The Pink Bonnet - Portrait of the Artist's Wife - Christian Grace Reid |
| Description | This gorgeous Scottish 1930's soft focus and sensual pastel oil painting is by noted artist John Bulloch Souter. It was painted in 1931 and the sitter is the artist's beautiful wife, Christian Grace Reid. It is a head and shoulders profile portrait with the sitter turning her head to the artist/viewer with a little smile. She is wearing a pale pink silk blouse and a wide lace brimmed pink hat, her dark curls visible under the hat. Souter has perfectly captured the different textures of her clothing and her facial details are just lovely. This is an excellent example of one of our favourite artist's work and wouldn't be out of place in Kelvingrove Gallery in Glasgow. Signed and dated upper right. |
| Provenance | Scottish collection. |
| Size | 18 x 24 inches |
| Frame | Housed in a fine period frame, 32 inches by 24 inches and in good condition. |
| Condition | Excellent condition |
| Biography | John "Jack" Bulloch Souter (1890-1972), also known as J.B. Souter, was a Scottish painter, sculptor, and illustrator, best known for his Jazz Age-themed work The Breakdown. Souter was born in Aberdeen, Scotland where he studied at Gray’s School of Art. A travelling scholarship allowed him to visit the continent, where he was much impressed by Velasquez, Chardin and Vermeer. After serving in the Royal Medical Corps during World War I, he soon married Christian Grace Reid and moved to London. It was during this post-war period that he made his name as a portrait painter; his subjects included such personalities as Ivor Novello, Gladys Cooper and Fay Compton. He exhibited at Redfern Gallery, the Fine Art Society, Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Academy where his notorious painting The Breakdown was shown in 1926 and then removed due to pressure from the Colonial Office and destroyed by the artist. During World War II he worked in the Censorship Department as a translator whilst also restoring paintings at Windsor Castle. In 1952, he retired to Aberdeen where ten years later, despite his failing eyesight, he drew upon his earlier sketches to reconstruct his original work The Breakdown nearly thirty years after its destruction. Souter remained in Aberdeen until his death in 1972. |
| Price | £9000 |
