£1,075 

Charles Mahoney:
Rural Cottage
Unframed (ref: 3993)
Artist's stamp on reverse

Tags: Charles Mahoney oil panel farms/domestic animals landscape

Provenance: The Artists Family

Before settling at Wrotham in Kent, Mahoney’s landscape subjects were taken from the parts of southern England where he spent his holidays: the Cotswolds, Wiltshire and Suffolk. He also produced occasional paintings when visiting Edward Bawden and John Aldridge in Great Bardfield, Essex. After settling at Oak Cottage, excursions by Mahoney were rare although he did produce paintings whilst at Pevensey in Sussex (1958), Veryan in Cornwall (1959) and Puncknowle in Dorset (circa 1962), the latter two supported by the Artists’ General Benevolent Institution.

Mahoney bought the best quality materials, often from Lechertier Barbe, in Jermyn Street. He prepared boards and canvases for painting with much care, using special recipes. In his own words: “The practical lesson to be learned is that ground and underpainting always have some effect on the final painting, even when it is not apparent, and that pictures must be carefully built up with this point in mind.” His oil paints were artist’s colours, which he applied with Hogshair and Sable brushes. He made extensive notes on pigments so that he was familiar with the chemical properties of each colour. For his mural schemes he mixed his oil paints with wax, applied to canvas that had been fixed to the wall before painting commenced. His favourite frames were purchased in the 50s and 60s from Robert Savage of South Kensington. These were beautifully made from a wide choice of mouldings and colourways.