Original, beautiful, impressionist oil painting depicting Swan Lake performed by the Royal Ballet featuring Iconic ballerina, Dame Margot Fonteyn on stage in the foreground.
Skilfully painted by PATRICK JOHNSON
Artist: Patrick Johnson
Subject: Swan Lake Ballet on Stage with Prima Ballerina, Dame Margot Fonteyn. Performed by the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, London, England
Date: 1953
Signed: Bottom right
Medium: Oil painting on canvas
Framed: In original frame edged in grey
Label: On Reverse, old label inscribed by hand, see photos.
About the Artist:
The artist, Patrick Johnson, is currently featured on the BBC website page "Your Paintings" as part of the "Uncovering the Nations art collection" campaign.
One of his paintings of Councillor William Darker, Mayor (1973–1974) is in the collections of Hastings Museum and Art Gallery. The entry for the painting is listed on the Art U.K. website. He is a highly accomplished artist.
Patrick Arthur Johnson is listed in the collections of Bushey Museum & Art Gsllery. They hold an oil painting by him of
The Royal Masonic School, Bushey, dated 1961.
This Artwork
The painting is signed and dated. An old label on reverse states that the painting is circa August 1953. A lovely insight into the history of the painting reveals that it was given as a wedding anniversary gift to Harriet and Steve from Mary and Pat.
A warm spot light on the dancers draws your eye to the fabulous and beautiful prima ballerina, Dame Margot Fonteyn, her head gracefully covered.
Dame Margot Fonteyn, DBE (18 May 1919 – 21 February 1991), was the stage name of Margaret Evelyn de Arias, an English ballerina. She spent her entire career as a dancer with the Royal Ballet, eventually being appointed Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the company by Queen Elizabeth II.
Dame Margot played ‘Odette’ in Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden on 30 March and 2 June 1953. Her dance partnership with Rudolf Nureyev towards the end of her career won them both worldwide fame.
The dark edges of the picture throw dramatic shadows across the stage. Trees in the distance on the stage offer perspective under a dappled silvery light. The triumphant entrance of the ballet troupe offer a sinuous flow showing off their stunning long fitted dresses. Their direction of travel point to the leading ballerina in the forefront of the stage.
Overall a striking and impressive original mid century oil painting ready to hang.
Measurements (including frame):
H 51cm
W 64.5cm
D 2.5cm
Will be carefully packaged.