Billing Antiques

CHANTRY FINE ARTS HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS SELLING AT MAJOR ANTIQUES FAIRS INCLUDING THE NEC AND
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL HALL IN LONDON.

WE SPECIALISE IN FINE ARTS, MINIATURES, WATER COLOURS, PENCIL DRAWINGS & SKETCHES, PEN & INK AND 'OBJETS D'ART' AS WELL AS SMALL AND LARGE OIL WORKS - UP TO AND INCLUDING - LARGE PORTRAITS.
Billing Antiques is a subsidiary of Chantry Fine Arts 
FIGURE  STUDIES
HENRY WESTON KEEN (1899-1935
C1930) 

      Henry Keen was a book illustrator whose style and slightly decadent imaginery is reminiscent of Aubrey Beardsley or Sidney Sime.     He worked for most of his sadly short career for Bodley Head publishers and for the Serefolder Club.    On his death in 1935 a memorial exhibition was held at the Twenty One Gallery in London.
We purchased recently two of his sketch books which were full of fine figure studies and early composition ideas for works such as "The Twilight of the Gods" by Richard Garnett, or forOndis by Voltaire.   These drawings indicate his strong and elegant imagination.    It is sad that his early death prevented his development into one of the most important artists of the mid 20th century .
The studies and drawings are on very thin paper.    They have, therefore, not been mounted, but will be offered as they came out of the sketch books.      All are in fine condition with slight wrinkling in places.
These studies are of five female nudes. 
Although none are signed, a photocopy of the artist's signature and address taken from the cover of one of the sketchbooks will be attached to each item.
  
Size of the sketchbook pages 9" x 7" (23cm x 17cm),  A few are slightly smaller because of marginal damage not affecting the drawings.
 
(Stock 6038)