John Piper (artist)

John Egerton Christmas Piper (1903–1992) was an artist.

Related Topics:
1903 - 1992 - Artist

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John Piper was a well-known 20th century British artist who lived for many years at Fawley Bottom near Henley-on-Thames. He was born in Epsom, the sone of a solicitor, and trained at the Richmond School of Art followed by the Royal College of Art in London.

Related Topics:
20th century - British - Fawley Bottom - Henley-on-Thames - Epsom - Solicitor - Richmond School of Art - Royal College of Art - London

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He was primarily a painter, but collaborated with many others including the poet and author John Betjeman (on the Shell Guides series of guidebooks on the British Isles), the potter Geoffrey Eastop and the artist Ben Nicholson. His work focused mainly on the British landscape, especially churches, and he spent much of his life studying the buildings he depicted. He designed the stained glass windows for the new Coventry Cathedral as well as many smaller churches and created tapestries for the Chichester Cathedral. He was also a set designer for the theatre, including the Kenton Theatre in Henley.

Related Topics:
Painter - John Betjeman - Shell Guides - British Isles - Geoffrey Eastop - Ben Nicholson - Landscape - Churches - Stained glass - Coventry Cathedral - Chichester Cathedral - Set designer - Theatre - Kenton Theatre - Henley

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182 of his works are in the Tate collection. These range in style from etchings to some abstract works. To quote:

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Tate - Etchings - Abstract works

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:Abstraction is a luxury that has been left to the present day to exploit.

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He withdrew from abstraction early in his career and concentrated on a more naturalistic but very distinctive approach. In his later years he produced many limited edition prints. He has had major exhibitions at the Tate Gallery in 1983–1984 and more recently (and posthumously), the Dulwich Picture Gallery (covering the 1930s), the Imperial War Museum (covering the 1940s) and, closer to his home, the River and Rowing Museum and the Museum of Reading. He was appointed an official war artist in 1944.

Related Topics:
Tate Gallery - 1983 - 1984 - Dulwich Picture Gallery - 1930s - Imperial War Museum - 1940s - River and Rowing Museum - Museum of Reading - War artist - 1944

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Piper's wife, Myfanwy Piper (1911–1997), was herself an accomplished librettist who collaborated with Benjamin Britten. They spawned an artistic dynasty, the most important being their elder son Edward Piper. Others included Sebastian Piper (painter and musician) and grandchildren, Luke (painter) and Henry (sculptor).

Related Topics:
Myfanwy Piper - 1911 - 1997 - Librettist - Benjamin Britten - Edward Piper

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