Art, Cadell, The Orange Blind

  


I've written about Cadell before, and yesterday this article in the Scotsman caught my eye. It makes interesting reading, I've admired the work of Cadell for years but I didn't know too much about his life, this article fills in the blanks, puts flesh on the bones...............

How did one of Scotland's most successful artists fall from glittering, privileged world to die in poverty?

published Date: 08 October 2011
By Tim Cornwell

Article in full here

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/How-did-one-of-Scotland39s.6849787.jp

HE IS one of Scotland's most revered Colourist painters whose work sells today for more than £500,000.
But a curator researching the life of FCB Cadell has uncovered the sad story of how the artist's final years were dogged by ill-health before his death in penury, aged 54.
Alice Strang, the curator working on the National Galleries of Scotland's first exhibition devoted to Cadell in 70 years discovered that the artist who enjoyed a bohemian life of parties and drinking in Edinburgh, died in 1937 with an uncashed cheque for £50 in his pocket from a fund for indigent artists.

In the months before his death, Cadell, who was suffering from cancer and cirrhosis of the liver, wrote to patrons offering to sell his paintings for as little as £10. He also held half-price sales of his work at his home and on one occasion turned up at a neighbour's home in such a dishevelled state that his host would not let him in.
Cadell's will also confirms that he left his entire estate to his loyal "manservant" and live-in companion of more than 20 years, Charles Oliver. "Except family portraits and silver which I bequeath to Jean (his sister] and Gruff (Jean's son], I leave everything to Charles Oliver, my most faithful friend," he wrote. It is likely to have included scores of artworks, potentially worth millions today, but almost unsellable at the time.
Cadell's estate was valued at less than £500 and the uncashed check from the Alexander Nasmyth Fund for Decayed Scottish Artists represented a substantial share of his wealth. "It's quite poignant," said Ms Strang.

It's a far cry from the glamorous world Cadell inhabited as a younger man and the success he was to achieve after his death. Last year, Cadell's Florian's Cafe in Venice told for  £553,250, a record for the artist and one which confirmed his place among the most successful Scottish artists. An Edinburgh Academy schoolboy, Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell was taken to Paris by his mother as a teenager to study painting after his talent was singled out by the Glasgow Boys painter, Arthur Melville…............................more of his work here
http://forgetmenot525.multiply.com/photos/album/320/Cadell 

delete reply acousticeagle wrote on Oct 10, '11 What a tragic end. It makes me think about the sensitivity that some artists can have. Some need looking after, I think and need a benefactor. Anyone can be an alcholic, but I find that there's also the artistic temperament at work in some. And it can be a delicate and melancholic constitution.

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Oct 10, '11 Yes, your page looks back to normal now.

delete reply bennett1 wrote on Oct 10, '11 The article is indeed illuminating. I hope we have come further as a society in accepting and celebrating homosexuality.

delete reply bennett1 wrote on Oct 10, '11 Your avatar is back as well as that lovely orange shade. Artists often swim against the stream of society and those who are truly innovative all the more so.

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Oct 10, '11 I've had problems with Multiply over the weekend. I was locked out for more than 24 hours, and I've been told that while I was, a lot of my page couldn't be seen. It seems ok again now. You still seem to be having problems. As I write this, your avatar seems to have disappeared. Cadell is not an artist I'm familiar with, but his story appears to parallel that of other artists who went on to greater fame after death. Will have a look at the album you posted later, off to work now........

delete reply veryfrank wrote on Oct 9, '11 I definitely remember Cadell, the orange shade is unforgettable. That is an interesting article. Always so sad that creativity takes on a greater appreciation and value after one's death.

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Oct 9, '11 ((((hug))) well i apperciate all your work a tragic end to a lovely artist :)

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Oct 9, '11 pestep55 said I had the problem last week, some pics loaded, some would not ahhhhhhhhhhh..............more of the multiply 'new improved service' no doubt...........its still a bit on and off, there are another 6 pictures of his paintings that i gave up trying to load.

delete reply pestep55 wrote on Oct 9, '11 forgetmenot525 said been trying on and off all day to post this, the pictures would not load I had the problem last week, some pics loaded, some would not, and not all links would work, finally got it all working today /:-)

delete reply esoterika713 wrote on Oct 9, '11 Nice Art Sundy Loretta. Cadell had a similar life style to some other artists as well. The starving artist comes to mind. Funny that when great artists like Cadell and Van Gogh often aren't recognized for their work until after they die. Strange that. ")

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Oct 9, '11 Grrrrr what on earth is wrong with Multiply today??..............been trying on and off all day to post this, the pictures would not load.........never mind, seems ok now :-)

Art, Cadell, The orange blind

 

Art Sunday (29.06.08), Drinking

The Orange Blind

by Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell (1883–1937)

THE PAINTING

The painting I have chosen for the theme ‘Drinking’ is ‘The Orange Blind’, by Francis Cadell. This shows a well dressed fashionable lady sat drinking tea in an Edinburgh interior.

The whole scene typifies fashionable Edinburgh of early 20^th Century. The tea service is silver, the black and gold screens have a Japanese, exotic look to them, there is a sedate and discreet piano player and the furniture exudes quality and style (probably French). It is interesting to note that while Cadell was heavily influenced by the work of contemporary French artists; Cadells subject drinks tea from a silver tea set but the subjects of French paintings were much more likely to be depicted with a glass of wine. This is possibly a reflection of the influence of the ‘Kirk’ (church) in Scottish society of the time. The painting gets its name from the huge bright orange blind covering the high window in this interior. This blind sets the tone of the painting. If you can imagine this painting without that blind, or with the blind toned down, dulled or diluted you can see the importance of colour in this painting. Without this block of solid orange the painting loses every thing. It  becomes a rather ordinary record of middle class Edinburgh society, but WITH the blind; it’s a vibrant piece of art. Which is another reason for choosing this particular painting, it does demonstrate exactly why this small group of painters were known collectively as the Scottish Colourists.

THE ARTIST

Cadell was born in Edinburgh but from the age of 16, he studied in Paris at the Académie Julian. While there he was in close contact with the French avant-garde painters of the day and his exposure to work by the early Fauvists, and in particular Matisse, became his most important influence. Once returned to Scotland, he exhibited in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London on a regular basis. He painted landscapes, interiors, still life and figures in both oil and watercolour. He is most noted for his use vibrant waves and solid blocks of colour. He enjoyed the landscape of Iona (Scottish Island) enormously, which he first visited in 1912 and features prominently in his work. During the 1920s he spent several summers with Samuel Peploe, another Scottish Colourist, on painting trips to Iona.

THE SCOTTISH COLOURISTS

At the turn of the centaury a small group of Scottish painters collectively known as ‘The Colourists’  were among the first to introduce the intense colour of the French Fauve movement into Britain. This Group of four Scottish artists, Francis Cadell, Leslie Hunter, Samuel Peploe and the leading figure John Duncan Fergusson were greatly influenced by work of contemporary French artists.Their work was not highly regarded when it was first exhibited in the early years of the twentieth Century, but by the late 20th Century it had become popular both at home and abroad. Their distinctive style had a formative influence on contemporary Scottish art. The Colourists visited and trained in France, the influence of the French Impressionists such as Monet, Matisse, and Cezanne is easily seen in their work.  This French influence is mixed with elements of traditional Scottish painting to give the unique style that The Colourists became renowned for. They worked with the vivid colours of French painting to produce a distinctive Scottish style. The Scottish Colourists continued the work of their predecessors, the Glasgow Boys. There seems to be a direct link between the art of the ‘Glasgow Boys’ and the art of the ‘Scottish Colourists’. The Glasgow Boys were revolutionary in their approach to art in late 19^th century/ early 20^th century and the Colourists took the movement forward into the middle/late 20^th century.

I have searched for a decent sized photograph of this painting but unfortunately I could only find this rather small reproduction of it. This is such a shame because I have seen this painting in the Kelvingrove Gallery, Glasgow and it really is a wonderful piece of art when seen hanging in the gallery. I have found some pictures of other pieces of his work but unfortunately none of these pictures is very big. You will just have to use your imagination and think big.

delete reply idiomatix wrote on Mar 27, '11 OF COURSE without the orange rectangle the painting would be s@*^e. It's color is complimentary to the blue of that chaise lounge

delete reply idiomatix wrote on Mar 27, '11 I like that THEENG she's sitting on. That piece of furniture. Want a house of my own and want an excuse to put THAT in it.

delete reply aimlessjoys wrote on Sep 15, '08 A great painting & gret commentary, too! So now I know about the orange blind, lol, thanks! I was worried it might be something awful. Enjoyed!

delete reply vickiecollins wrote on Jul 1, '08 very nice painting..thanks for visiting my page.

delete reply wickedlyinnocent wrote on Jul 1, '08 This is a lovely work and yes, the influence of Japanese prints is easy to see, the colour orange gives an exquisite touch.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 1, '08 wow................just let me know when you are comeing..... any excuse for me to go to Glasgow and re-visit the Kelvingrove.....

delete reply bennett1 wrote on Jul 1, '08 As I mentioned last night, as soon as I saw this painting, I went over to Google to find a larger version. I saw several, but not much larger. The orange of the shade is outstanding and , yes, I love how it spills out and over the piano, chair and so forth. The Tate version has a brighter, more luminescent orange, there is a copy of this on someone's blog that blows up, but then I can't see the entire picture. Nothing for it then but for me to put Glascow on my list and go to visit it just to see this painting.

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Jul 1, '08 Orange happens to be my favourite colour or one of them, The only thing I did was to click on the button next to edit in Firefox (the view button I think it's called in English) and increased the text size. Luckily for people with vision problems, they still can use a computer. Probably, there is another way to do it though.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 1, '08 Don't you just love the way you get all that orange reflected light spilling out over the corner. It's all over the piano, the picture, the chair and the floor..mmmmmmmmm wonderful piece of art

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 1, '08 Thanks for that but I did try to resize this picture and it distorted, I lost all clarity. Not sure what I did wrong but if you have managed it maybe you could post the bigger version here for every one to see, It would be really nice if you could do that, thank you

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Jul 1, '08 You can always increase the size of your texts and photos in your browser. I use Firefox and I made the painting bigger. These are fantastic paintings, and I can see the French influence.

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Jul 1, '08 i love the color :)

delete reply starfishred wrote on Jun 30, '08 oh how wonderful and a new artist so nice-I love to learn about new artists ty

delete reply lauritasita wrote on Jun 30, '08 What a beautiful painting ! I love it, too ! Thank you for visiting my Art Sunday post. I actually have another one which I did for the drinking theme if you have time to see it: http://lauritasita.multiply.com/journal/item/754

delete reply bennett1 wrote on Jun 30, '08 I looked all over Google for a larger picture - not one to be found as you said. The one at the Tate site is nice. The picture itself is marvelous. My eyes hurt - I will come back to look and comment.