Henry Lamb
The Lake, 1911
Tempera on canvas
24 x 18 inches
Signed
POA
Provenance
Lady Ottoline Morrell
The Hon. Robert Gathorne-Hardy
Note: Henry Lamb paintings from this period, before the First World War, can arguably be considered his most radical and original works. ‘The Lake’, painted in 1911, pre-dates by a year the artists perhaps most famous work ‘Phantasy’, now in the Tate collection. Both paintings show Lamb having assimilated the influence of Puvis de Chavannes, but creating works very much his own.
The French painter was to have a profound influence on modern European art of the time. His development of simplified forms and the use of flat planes of colour laid the basis for Post- Impressionism and his work directly influenced artists from Gauguin to Picasso.
Lamb first came across his work in Paris when he visited in 1907, his attention being drawn to it by Augustus John. The influence did not show itself immediately, however. Perhaps it took a further visit in early 1911 with Boris Anrep to rekindle his interest and it was in that year that work on ‘The Lake’ began.
Keith Clements, in his biography of the artist, discusses at length, the genesis of the work, its progress and final completion. Writing of his first use of tempera, Henry Lamb describes his introduction to the medium ‘I have just learnt from Fry’ and goes on to say ‘Its a lovely medium but very slow’.
The painting was immediately purchased by Lady Ottoline Morrell. In 1913 Lamb asked her if she would loan the painting for an exhibition in Moscow, indicating the significance he gave to the work.
Exhibitions
New English Art Club, London, 1911
Leicester Galleries, London, Pictures from Garsington, 1956
Leicester Galleries, London, Henry Lamb: Memorial Exhibition, 1961
Manchester City Art Gallery, Manchester, Henry Lamb 1883-1960, 1984 with Arts Council Tour to Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and New York City Art Gallery
Literature
Studio, 1911, vol.54, p.308, illus. p. 306
Keith Clements, Henry Lamb: The Artist and His Friends, Biddles Ltd, Guilford, 1985, p.68-70, illus. between p.114-115