Dod Procter
Encyclopedia
Dod Procter was a Cornish
artist, and wife of artist Ernest Procter. Her painting, Morning, was bought for the nation by the Daily Mail
in 1927.
under Stanhope Forbes
and at the Académie Colarossi
, Paris.
From around 1922, Proctor painted a series of simplified, monumental images of young women of her acquaintance. They were typified by the volume of the figures, brought out by her use of light and shadow.
When her painting, Morning, in this series, was displayed at the 1927 Royal Academy
Summer Exhibition, it was voted Picture of the Year and bought by the Daily Mail
for the Tate
gallery, where it now hangs. Proctor sold the work for £300, but could have achieved ten times that amount. Prior to its permanent home in the Tate, its popularity resulted in its showing in New York, and then a two year tour of Britain.
Both public and critics responded to its "sensuous but sombre style" which evoked the west Cornish "silver light". Frank Rutter
, art critic of The Sunday Times
, said in 1927 that Morning was "a new vision of the human figure which amounts to the invention of a twentieth century style in portraiture" and "She has achieved apparently with consummate ease that complete presentation of twentieth century vision in terms of plastic design after which Derain
and other much praised French painters have been groping for years past." The model for the work was a Newlyn fisherman's 16 year old daughter, Cissie Barnes.
The subjects of her pictures are largely portraits and flowers. During her life-time and after her death her work fell out of favour.
Newlyn was Proctor's home for most of her working life.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
artist, and wife of artist Ernest Procter. Her painting, Morning, was bought for the nation by the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
in 1927.
Life and work
Dod Procter studied at NewlynNewlyn
Newlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish...
under Stanhope Forbes
Stanhope Forbes
Stanhope Alexander Forbes R.A., , was an artist and member of the influential Newlyn school of painters...
and at the Académie Colarossi
Académie Colarossi
The Académie Colarossi is an art school founded by the Italian sculptor Filippo Colarossi. First located on the Île de la Cité, it moved in the 1870s to 10 rue de la Grande-Chaumière in the VIe arrondissement of Paris, France....
, Paris.
From around 1922, Proctor painted a series of simplified, monumental images of young women of her acquaintance. They were typified by the volume of the figures, brought out by her use of light and shadow.
When her painting, Morning, in this series, was displayed at the 1927 Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
Summer Exhibition, it was voted Picture of the Year and bought by the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
for the Tate
Tate
-Places:*Tate, Georgia, a town in the United States*Tate County, Mississippi, a county in the United States*Táté, the Hungarian name for Totoi village, Sântimbru Commune, Alba County, Romania*Tate, Filipino word for States...
gallery, where it now hangs. Proctor sold the work for £300, but could have achieved ten times that amount. Prior to its permanent home in the Tate, its popularity resulted in its showing in New York, and then a two year tour of Britain.
Both public and critics responded to its "sensuous but sombre style" which evoked the west Cornish "silver light". Frank Rutter
Frank Rutter
Francis Vane Phipson Rutter was a British art critic, curator and activist.In 1903, he became art critic for The Sunday Times, a position which he held for the rest of his life...
, art critic of The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, said in 1927 that Morning was "a new vision of the human figure which amounts to the invention of a twentieth century style in portraiture" and "She has achieved apparently with consummate ease that complete presentation of twentieth century vision in terms of plastic design after which Derain
André Derain
André Derain was a French artist, painter, sculptor and co-founder of Fauvism with Henri Matisse.-Early years:...
and other much praised French painters have been groping for years past." The model for the work was a Newlyn fisherman's 16 year old daughter, Cissie Barnes.
The subjects of her pictures are largely portraits and flowers. During her life-time and after her death her work fell out of favour.
Newlyn was Proctor's home for most of her working life.
Selected paintings
- Black and White
- Dinah Reading
- Eileen Mayo
- Fair Woman
- Jeanne's Door
- Morning (1926)
- Portrait of Midge Bruford
- Portrait of a Young Man
- The Orchard
- Virginal
Further reading
- Cross, Tom (1996) Shining Sands: Artists in Newlyn and St Ives 1880-1930. Lutterworth Press. ISBN 0718829255