Lot 1378 , § Sir Cedric Morris (1889-1982) Les Fleurs du Midi 1923, 32 x 26in.

§ Sir Cedric Morris (1889-1982)
oil on canvas,
'Les Fleurs du Midi 1923', Exhibited at The Tate Gallery Cedric Morris Exhibition May 1984, no.20,
signed and dated '23,
32 x 26in.
Estimate £12,000-18,000

This present work belongs to a remarkable group of flower paintings that date to around 1923. Self-taught, in his early years Morris' work was considered wildly unconventional with his exuberant use of paint and his unworldly depiction that somehow still captured the essence of the subject matter. A style that foretells the work of artists such as Mary Fedden.
Having studied in Newlyn, Paris and London in 1926 Morris was nominated for election by Ben and Winifred Nicholson to the Seven and Five Society, later winning several commissions most notably for Shell designing the 'Summer Shell' and 'Gardeners Use Shell' posters. The 1930's saw Morris moving with his partner Arthur Lett-Haines to Suffolk where he founded the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing, students included Lucian Freud and Maggi Hambling. Visitors included the painter John Nash, the cookery writer Elizabeth David and Kathleen Hale, creator of Orlando the Marmalade Cat who pictured both Morris and Lett-Haines in her children's stories.
Morris concentrated on his gardening as avidly as his painting. He bred numerous plants with a rose, a geranium, a daffodil, poppies and irises being named after him (his work 'Iris Seedlings' hangs in the Tate). His gardens influenced Vita Sackville-West, Beth Chatto and Tony Venison. Sackville-West planted bearded irises grown by Morris at Sissinghurst; Beth Chatto later grew Narcissus minor 'Cedric Morris' commercially at her nursery in Essex.
Two years after his death a retrospective exhibition of his work was held at the Tate Gallery. This painting was included amongst the exhibits.
For a similar work see Sotheby's sale July 15th 2008, lot 40.


Oil on original canvas in very good untouched condition, canvas still tight, a few lines of craquelure running through the thick impasto really only noticed in the left cactus roundel and in some of the pink flowers but a few other short but stable lines scattered throughout, signed and dated lower right. In an old and possibly original overpainted frame which suffers from a few small chips and knocks, labels verso from the Tate Gallery Exhibition, further hand inscribed label with title.
Comes for sale from a local private collection, purchased at auction prior to this approx. 10 years ago or so.


Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.

Sold for £26,000