Sam Morse-Brown (1903–2001) - NO RESERVE - Portrait of a boy with a communion medal
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Sam Morse-Brown (1903–2001) portrait, titled NO RESERVE - Portrait of a boy with a communion medal, from 1980–1990, pastel on paper, origin Spain, sold with frame.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Portrait of a child with a communion medal.
Technical Data Sheet
Author: Sam Morse-Brown (1903–2001); bottom right signature and dated 1965 (Ibiza)
Chronology: 1965 painted in Ibiza
Pastel on paper protected by glass.
Measurements: 57 × 44 cm (artwork) · 74 × 61 cm (framed).
Support: fine-grain paper on a padded frame.
Style: academic British realism
Condition: excellent; soft colors, clean surface, and a high aesthetic quality gold frame.
Compositional and iconographic description
The portrait shows a young man with a white shirt and a medal around his neck, posed three-quarters against a neutral background with diffuse light.
The artist captures with extraordinary precision the nuances of the child's face, especially the gaze, serene and luminous, which draws the compositional focus.
The use of pastel allows for delicate modeling of the skin, with subtle tonal gradations on the cheeks and forehead, while the misty texture of the background adds depth without distraction.
The palette, dominated by whites, soft browns, and pinks, reinforces the purity and innocence of the figure, evoking an ideal of innocence characteristic of mid-20th-century English painting.
Style, Context, and Comparative Valuation
Sam Morse-Brown was a British portraitist of great technical refinement, trained at the Royal College of Art, whose work lies between traditional academicism and the modern sensibility of psychological portraiture.
His mastery of pastel brings him closer to artists like William Orpen, Philip de László, or Gerald Leslie Brockhurst, although with a more introspective and restrained sensitivity.
The precision of the drawing, the serenity of the gesture, and the atmosphere of intimacy make this portrait a representative piece of post-war British portraiture, where classical elegance combines with empathetic observation.
Due to its impeccable craftsmanship and excellent condition, 'Portrait of a Child with First Communion Medal' can be considered a work of high aesthetic and collector's value, a testament to Morse-Brown's pastel virtuosity and the tradition of 20th-century English portraiture.
Seller's Story
At Barcelona Art Gallery, we are a large family of art collectors in Barcelona who have been acquiring all kinds of paintings for 2 centuries.
Headquartered in the Les Corts neighborhood of Barcelona.
We offer part of our private collection for auction: high period and modern paintings that we have been acquiring over time, mainly from art galleries, antique dealers, auctions, private collections and very diverse origins.
Translated by Google TranslatePortrait of a child with a communion medal.
Technical Data Sheet
Author: Sam Morse-Brown (1903–2001); bottom right signature and dated 1965 (Ibiza)
Chronology: 1965 painted in Ibiza
Pastel on paper protected by glass.
Measurements: 57 × 44 cm (artwork) · 74 × 61 cm (framed).
Support: fine-grain paper on a padded frame.
Style: academic British realism
Condition: excellent; soft colors, clean surface, and a high aesthetic quality gold frame.
Compositional and iconographic description
The portrait shows a young man with a white shirt and a medal around his neck, posed three-quarters against a neutral background with diffuse light.
The artist captures with extraordinary precision the nuances of the child's face, especially the gaze, serene and luminous, which draws the compositional focus.
The use of pastel allows for delicate modeling of the skin, with subtle tonal gradations on the cheeks and forehead, while the misty texture of the background adds depth without distraction.
The palette, dominated by whites, soft browns, and pinks, reinforces the purity and innocence of the figure, evoking an ideal of innocence characteristic of mid-20th-century English painting.
Style, Context, and Comparative Valuation
Sam Morse-Brown was a British portraitist of great technical refinement, trained at the Royal College of Art, whose work lies between traditional academicism and the modern sensibility of psychological portraiture.
His mastery of pastel brings him closer to artists like William Orpen, Philip de László, or Gerald Leslie Brockhurst, although with a more introspective and restrained sensitivity.
The precision of the drawing, the serenity of the gesture, and the atmosphere of intimacy make this portrait a representative piece of post-war British portraiture, where classical elegance combines with empathetic observation.
Due to its impeccable craftsmanship and excellent condition, 'Portrait of a Child with First Communion Medal' can be considered a work of high aesthetic and collector's value, a testament to Morse-Brown's pastel virtuosity and the tradition of 20th-century English portraiture.
Seller's Story
At Barcelona Art Gallery, we are a large family of art collectors in Barcelona who have been acquiring all kinds of paintings for 2 centuries.
Headquartered in the Les Corts neighborhood of Barcelona.
We offer part of our private collection for auction: high period and modern paintings that we have been acquiring over time, mainly from art galleries, antique dealers, auctions, private collections and very diverse origins.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Artist
Sam Morse-Brown (1903–2001)
Sold with frame
Yes
Sold by
Gallery
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
NO RESERVE - Portrait of a boy with a communion medal
Technique
Pastel
Signature
Hand signed
Country of Origin
Spain
Condition
Excellent condition
Height
74 cm
Width
61 cm
Weight
6 kg
Depiction/Theme
Portrait
Style
Realism
Period
1980-1990
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