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James Stroudley:
Studies for Olympic Games. Athlete descending a ladder, circa 1930
Mounted (ref: 160)
Chalk and pastel on buff coloured paper
Between 24 x 15 in. (61 x 38.2 cm.) and 25 x 19 in. (62.5 x 48 cm.)

Tags: James Stroudley chalk pastel sport Sporting Greats

Provenance: the artist's estate

In 1930 Stroudley became the first Abbey Scholar, which entitled him to a period of study at the British School in Rome. The fruits of his time in Rome was an arched-top painting measuring over 66 x 110 inches, depicting male athletes competing in a variety of sporting activities.

His compositions from his Rome period are among the last wholly successful decorative cycles produced by a Rome Scholar prior to World War II. His drawings from the period are technically brilliant and bear comparison with those of Eric Kennington. During the post-war era he moved increasingly towards abstraction.