Last Thursday, Yorkshire born, world renowned artist, David Hockney died.
He was 88. He began life the son of an accountant and grew up in Bradford. He went to art college, and as his career took off, he went to the USA. He was a leader in the Pop Art movement. In 1967 he painted A Bigger Splash, a glorious blue swimming pool and hot summer sky in sunny California.
I love this painting. When Liz worked at Tate Britain 20 years ago, she gave me two Hockney prints. This one, and my favourite Hockney painting - Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy.
This was painted around 1970. The couple are fashion designer Ossie Clark and his wife, textile designer Celia Birtwell. Clark and Hockney were best friends, and David was best man at their wedding.
Celia is wearing a dress called Heavenly Twins which Ossie designed for her [in
2015 it sold for £11K and is now in Manchester] I saw this dress before that at a exhibition in London with Steph, alongside the painting. The cat was actually called Blanche [Percy was their other cat!]
On Monday I decided I would get my prints down from the loft, and display them for a few weeks as a tribute to the newly deceased painter. I picked up the cardboard storage tube. It was neatly labelled "Tate, Splash, Percy"
But it was empty!!!! Neither print inside. I cannot work this out. If I'd decluttered and donated them, I'd have given away the tube too. If a mouse got into the tube and ate the prints, there'd be evidence [we had mice up there a few years back] If they didn't go to a CS, where have I put them? Maybe they will turn up.
I shall just read all the obits and enjoy looking at his pictures [his later ones of Yorkshire are lovely] RIP David Hockney July 1937- June 2026
Do you have a favourite Hockney painting?
Celia is wearing a dress called Heavenly Twins which Ossie designed for her [in
That's a mystery!!! I have lost my Lucy and Yak sunflower trousers. I took them to the South Downs with me at Feb half term and I've not seen them since. A complete mystery!!!
ReplyDeleteOh I do hope you find them!
DeleteYes, Hockney's late Yorkshire landscapes are lovely.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteWhat a disappointment. I do hope they reappear.
ReplyDeleteMe too
DeleteI love Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy. I also like some of his later work done digitally although some critics were a bit sniffy because he "painted" them on a tablet, I thought the colour were fantastic. I hope you find your prints. I hate losing things in that way. For years I have been working on a tapestry, very complex with lots of swags and flowers. When we moved here 12 years ago I could not find it and thought somehow in the move it had gone to a charity shop as we downsized big time. Just a week ago our eldest son asked to borrow a suitcase so we unearthed it and when I checked it was empty guess what I found? Sadly my eyes aren't good enough now to finish the tapestry but good news is my niece said she will try and finish it. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteMatisse used tissue paper to collage, with the help of his assistant when he could no longer paint accurately. Why be sniffy about alternative media?? Glad you found your tapestry, and that your niece will finish it for you
DeleteWe went to Saltaire a few years ago to see the paintings he had done on his ipad.They were huge and amazing and I was so glad I got to see them. Catriona
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!!
DeleteI think anyone living in Britain would appreciate that painting of the pool with a cloudless sky! I like the painting with the cat, what is it watching through that open window? I hope you find the paintings. We regularly lose things and sometimes we find them, sometimes we don't. Mysteries can be frustrating.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blue sky and hot weather here in Norfolk today... If only I had a pool!!
DeleteThe mystery of the disappearing Hockney's. Hope they turn up soon. Xx
ReplyDelete👍😀
DeleteMy favourite is A Bigger Splash, I've never known why I like it so much as it's quite loud in it's colours and definitely not my usual muted greens type of artwork. I was amazed when I find out how long it took him just to paint the splash.
ReplyDeleteSuch time and precision 💦
DeleteThe pool diving ones are my favourite, but he was a treat to look at himself. With his peroxide hair, big glasses and multicoloured clothes. Did you see The King admiring his yellow crocs?
ReplyDeleteOh yes! 💛🤴🙂
DeleteI do hope you find your prints, Angela.
ReplyDeleteI too am very fond of Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy and I also like his more recent portraits. I also love his Normandy drawings inspired by the Bayeux tapestry and on show for free at the Serpentine Gallery at the moment. Just remembered his Yorkshire landscapes too. He was brilliant and you come out of his exhibitions feeling glad to be alive, buoyed up by the wonderful colours. Nicky K
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up about the Normandy paintings
DeleteMost things that go missing turn up eventually. I walk round the house saying “oh that’s where that is!” most days!
ReplyDeleteNot just me then!
DeleteYou haven't used the frames for other prints and
ReplyDeleteleft the Hockneys inside? I do that to save space!
That's a thought,thank you
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