George William Bissill 1896-1973 Heanor ‘Pitman Painter’ signed oil on
canvas Hampshire landscape
Original oil painting, signed lower left
THE ARTIST
George William Bissill 1896-1973 is unofficially known as the Heanor
Pitman Painter. Although he did not form part of the Ashington Group in
Northumberland, his work was contemporary of this period, and the artist had a
similar upbringing working in coal pit environment which inspired many of his
paintings depicting miners. This work reflects his other love for landscapes.
He was brought up in a mining family in the Langley Mill area of Derbyshire.
Bissell was a printmaker and produced World War Two posters for the
Ministry of Information. He also painted extensively in landscapes included the
Hampshire countryside.
"George William Bissill (22 June 1896 – 14 September 1973) was a British miner, painter, and furniture designer. During the First World War, he was stationed in France and was gassed. Bissill studied art at the Nottingham School of Art for a year from 1920. His first exhibition was in 1925 at the Redfern Gallery. He created posters for a number of organizations including Shell, the Post Office and London & North Eastern Railway. Bissill was known for his landscapes and figurative paintings in oil, watercolour and woodcuts. Bissill's paintings are held in a number of important public collections, including the Tate Gallery, National Museum of Northern ireland and the Manchester Art Gallery” (Tate).
“In 1915 a Derbyshire collier gladly joined the army to escape the
mines. But in the Great War the 18-year-old former Heanor schoolboy unwittingly
encountered another life underground which proved more hellish than anything he
endured at the coal face. Like many mine workers he was made a ‘Sapper’ – a
Private in the Royal Engineers – and set to work in France tunnelling under No
Man’s Land towards enemy lines”. (derbyshirelife.co.uk)
(After the war)
“Bissill’s distinctive talent had been recognised – quickly the Redfern
Gallery in London set up his one-man show held in April 1925. His work sold,
and the former Derbyshire miner – ‘a quiet dark youth of 28’ – was suddenly
‘fashionable’. There followed a few heady years for the man dubbed locally ‘the
Heanor artist’. In Paris he experimented successfully with woodcuts. His
depictions of the ballet, Folies Bergere and café society – a world away from
his mining works – sold well”. (derbyshirelife.co.uk)
SIZE AND CONDITION
The oil painting is in overall very good condition. The painting would
be in perfect condition, but for a few very minor areas of paint loss in the
lower left part of the painting, see pictures. Whilst these hardly detract from
the painting when viewed, once properly framed it is expected these would be
barely noticeable. Hence the low starting price (offers welcome) for a
large piece by this artist. The painting is on original canvas stretcher,
unframed, and measures an impressive 610mm x 504mm.
EXTRA INFORMATION
For extensive works perform internet search:
artuk . org/discover/artworks/search/actor:bissill-george-william-18961973
Tate international modern and contemporary art gallery:
tate . org.uk/art/artists/george-bissill-758
See Christies' website for impressive history
christies . com/George-William-Bissill-12348.aspx
OTHER
Item is sold as seen, returns permitted within 14 days, purchaser pays
for return to the value of the purchase.
George William Bissill 1896-1973