Have I discovered an unknown painting byJohn Hall-Thorpe ? To my knowledge (...) he made only one Flowers and Fruit print. This one below. It is for sale ($ 1500-1800) so you can have a copy if you look for it carefully. Not cheap but can one buy more Art Deco design in the house than this ? 
It is said that it took Hall Thorpe one year to cut all 15 (!) blocks for his most famous print "the Country Bunch" but I think this Flowers and Fruit took at least that number of blocks counting colors.
This is the cover picture of a picture book: "a painting book for children" titled Flowers and Fruit edited by Blackie. I photoshopped the front page words off to create the first picture (and fool you).
The book contains 12 flower designs and 12 fruit desings in color and 12 + 12 "to paint in" outlined copies. And plenty of blank pages. Also some good advice on colour and painting is given to the little artists. I don't know if he made this painting for the book or Blackie used an existing painting.
You easliy recognize Hall Thorpe's style in the designs. I think it is from the 1930's. You'll find them in his woodblock prints all over. The bluebells, cowslips, and marigolds. Amazingly one such book was offered and sold on EBay recently and there was some serious bidding going on. It sold at a shocking price. I think more copies will have survived that are "unspoiled" by childrens ambitions. And are cheaper. Mine certainly was and was never touched by a young artist. 
See also my other Blog postings on John Hall Thorpe's flower prints .
I like it when you do this kind of stuff. Very interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI like it that you like it as much as I like it putting it together, Thanks. I have many more plans for 2011.
ReplyDeleteHi, I have the John Hall Thorpe Flowers and Fruits
ReplyDeletepainting book for children.But from apart from your site,can find nothing else about it! Could you head me in the right direction please.
Kind Regards
Kerry
Cherish it, Kerry, because it is extremely rare, otherwise nothing much more can be found about it. It's a must have item for JTH collectors (I'm not, I'm just an admirer and a fan and have just the one print: Marigolds).
ReplyDeleteThankyou for your reply. much appreciated.50p well spent at car boot! And yes will now defiantly cherish it.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards
Kerry
i have just found a picture amongst my late mothers photos,i have just looked it up and found this website, its the spring begins picture, can anyone tell me is it a painting or a print, and when was it painted if a painting, i cant tell because its on a black background. thanks in advance for any info. sam.
ReplyDeleteHello Sam, it's a print and not a painting and is dated around 1925-1930. Also please consider this is not a public platform but a privat Blog. Adressing to "anyone" isn't appropriate and doesn't work that way.
ReplyDeletewhoops sorry Gerrie,how rude am i, thanks for that anyway,i thought it was a really nice picture,didnt realise at first there was a name on it but thought id look it up when i did as i had never heard the name, now ive seen some of the other pictures i think theyre lovely, thanks again for the info on my picture and the chance to see some others....sam
DeleteSam, I just meant to say that a comment on a Blog posting isn't read by members of an active group. The occasional visitors reading these post aren't involved as a group. JTH is a very collactable printmaker and his prints very sought after. I love them. That's the reason I made the postings. My email is under the contact button. Thanks for your comment. Gerrie
ReplyDelete