Modernism and abstraction
During the 1930s, John Piper achieved early recognition as an abstract artist. He was a pioneer of abstract art in Britain, alongside contemporaries including Henry Moore and Ben Nicholson. Piper remained committed to modernism throughout his sixty year practice, weaving elements of abstraction into his unique and naturalistic style.
Abstract Composition, 1936:
Back Gardens Burgundy, 1958:
Tisbury l, 1965:
Architecture and the built environment
Piper is perhaps best-known for his paintings of the built environment. From the late 1930s onward, his work demonstrated a fascination with British architecture, in particular, its dilapidated churches, stately homes and ruins. During the Second World War, he was appointed Official War Artist and persuaded the War Artists' Advisory Committee to allow him to document Britain’s bomb-damaged buildings.
Bolton Castle, c.1940:
Tre'r-ddol Ceridigion, 1958:
Harlaxton Manor, 1972:
Rural and coastal Britain
Another fixture of Piper’s work was the British landscape, with its dramatic peaks and rugged coastlines. This interest extended to all reaches of Britain, in particular Wales, which he visited on regular occasions throughout his lifetime. His landscape works were inspired by the British Romantic tradition and artists such as John Ruskin, J.M.W. Turner and Richard Wilson.
Newhaven Harbour and Cliff, Sussex, 1936:
Welsh Landscape, Tretio, 1969:
Dinas Cerdin nr Llandysul, 1986:
The applied arts
Piper had an insatiable creative and intellectual curiosity. He collaborated with artists in a range of fields and produced not only paintings and reliefs, but also studies in photography, theatre designs, ceramics, textiles and stained glass. In 1950, he began working with stained glass artist Patrick Reyntien and they worked on a number of commissions together, including for Coventry Cathedral.
Cartoon for Baptistry Window, Coventry Cathedral, 1959:
Double head plate, c. 1975:
The Art of John Piper, by David Fraser Jenkins and Hugh Fowler-Wright will be published in June 2016 by Unicorn Press.
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Images from top: John Piper, 1983 © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Edward Piper; Abstract Composition, 1936, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Luke Piper; Back Gardens Burgundy, 1958, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Luke Piper; Tisbury l, 1965, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Luke Piper; Bolton Castle, c.1940, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Luke Piper; Tre'r-ddol Ceridigion, 1958, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Luke Piper; Harlaxton Manor, 1972, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Luke Piper; Newhaven Harbour and Cliff, Sussex, 1936, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Luke Piper; Welsh Landscape, Tretio, 1969, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2015, Photo: Luke Piper; Dinas Cerdin nr Llandysul, 1986, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Luke Piper; Cartoon for Baptistry Window, Coventry Cathedral, 1959, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Luke Piper; Double head plate, c. 1975, John Piper © The Piper Estate / DACS 2016, Photo: Luke Piper.