Bethesda, Stow Bardolph, Cambs

Dr. Stephen Laird provided the following commentary with regard to this painting by Piper:

"Bethesda is very interesting indeed. And 1939 is part of Piper's 'peak' period, both in terms of interest and collectibility. Many of the 'classic' Piper images in museums around the UK, including the Tate, have Pipers from this period which are frequently seen reproduced as cards and in books, etc. Piper is also well known as a pioneer when it came to the artistic depiction of nonconformist chapels, such as the one which features in this oil.

The other point to make is that scholars have described Piper's tendency, from around 1939-1941, to make building facades appear 'blind' by reducing the visual significance of windows and niches. This is connected with the sense of fear and protectiveness and sense of desolution of a country on the brink of war (don't forget that in 1939 the tragedy of the 1914-1918 war was fresh in people's memories. Piper's elder brother had been killed in the 1914-1918 war.

And finally, the artist's method of scraping the layers of paint on the surface to get that scratchy effect is also typical of Piper of this period. So this is a great little picture."

Marked Down from $48,000 to $28,000

(1903-1992)"This British painter worked in watercolor, gouache and oil paint. He produced landscapes, urban landscapes as well as architectural views and seascapes. Piper also created designs for tapestries, stained glass, mosaics and for stage sets.

Richmond School of Art, the Royal College of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art in London all helped form this marvelous man's art talent between 1925 and 1930. On a visit to Paris in 1933, where he became more absorbed in the abstract movement led by artists such as Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth, Piper also met Helion, Braque, Leger, Arp and Brancusi.

He became a member of the London Group and also of the 7 & 5 Society, the members of which included Ben Nicholson, Henry Moore, Ivon Hitchens, Frances Hodgkins, Barbara Hepworth and Winifred Nicholson."

Excerpted from Benezit's Dictionary of Artists