Rye, Sussex
James Bolivar Manson (London 1879 – London 1945)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1913
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
406 x 483 mm (16 x 19 in)
Place of origin
Rye
Order this imageCollection
Fenton House, London
NT 1449149
Caption
Manson became a member of the Camden Town Group through his friendship with Lucien Pissarro. He later became Secretary to the group, keeping records of meetings and reviewing exhibitions. In 1930 he became Director of the Tate, during which time he was criticised by some for his conservative acquisition policy. Manson exhibited four paintings at each of the three Camden Town Group exhibitions. His paintings were arguably more conventional in style and subject-matter than those of his peers. This scene of Rye is typical of his style, with small impasto touches of colour and rich tone. This impressionist manner of painting was certainly influenced by Lucien Pisarro, through whom he would have read the letters of Camille Pissarro, further influencing his belief in the importance of this technique. Manson said of Camille’s work that it had ‘something of the elusive feeling of the infinity of life itself.’
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Rye, Sussex by James Bolivar Manson (London 1879 – London 1945), 1913
Provenance
bequest of Peter Barkworth (1929 - 2006)
Credit line
Fenton House, The Peter Barkworth Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
James Bolivar Manson (London 1879 – London 1945), artist