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Notes
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One of the most versatile artists of the twentith century, John Piper changed his medium, style and subject throughout his career. Although his work is often associated with Neo-Romanticism, Piper rejected the term and the restrictions of such a label. However, he often implied that he would be happy to continue the Romantic tradition of British art. Piper was born in Epsom in 1903. He first trained to be a solicitor like his father. After failing the law exam he went on to study art at Richmond School of Art and then the Royal College of Art. His fascination with ruins allowed him to become an Official War Artist during the Second World War, documenting the effects of the bombings on England’s architectural heritage. In 1943 he took inspiration from rock formations and visited the caves of Yorkshire. Before his visits he would assemble all available literary descriptions and illustrations. Noted as the most picturesque of the Yorkshire caves, Weathercote Cave is a rocky chasm with an 80 foot waterfall at the far end. Above the waterfall hangs a boulder, wedged into place. The arrangement of the cave lent itself to Piper’s penchant for dramatic perspectives. It would later serve as the subject of a lithograph by Piper in 1944.
Title
Weathercote Cave
Date
1943
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 63.5 x W 45.7 cm
Accession number
GA0050
Acquisition method
purchased from the artist, 1952
Work type
Painting