Composition

John Wells (1907 - 2000)

Oil on canvas

1968-1976

Share this:

© Estate of the Artist

License this image

Start Zooming
  • About the work

    The simplicity and geometry of "Composition" reflects the influence of early abstract artists Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Naum Gabo. John Wells worked as a doctor before moving in 1945 to Newlyn in Cornwall, where he devoted himself to painting and became heavily involved in the artistic community centred on St Ives in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Wells' earlier paintings were more concerned with surface texture and the representation of natural forms than his more hard-edged works of the 1960s and '70s. His intention in works like "Composition" was to reach a balance of line, colour and form, while maintaining a grounding in landscape and nature.

  • Explore
    Places
    Materials & Techniques
    canvas, oil, oil painting
  • Details
    Title
    Composition
    Date
    1968-1976
    Medium
    Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 50.50 cm, width: 76.00 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from Christie's, 12 June 1998
    Inscription
    verso, tl: 68/18 ; verso, br: ANCHOR STUDIO/TREWARVENETH STREET/NEWLYN/CORNWALL ; verso, tcr: John Wells. 1968-76
    Provenance
    With Agnew’s Gallery, London; sold through Christie's, London, on 12 June 1998 (Lot 122)
    GAC number
    17325