      
JAMES CAIRD SOCIETY SHACKLETON NEWS
Latest Films Meetings Exhibitions Heritage Antarctic South Georgia
Stamps Memorabilia Arts Travel International Expeditions
Archive Forum Education Directory Feedback
BONHAMS TO STAGE POLAR PAINTINGS EXHIBITION, 27 MAY TO 15 JUN 2007
STRIKING ANTARCTIC IMAGES BY EDWARD SEAGO FROM BRITANNIA'S POLAR VISIT IN 1956-57
The London auctioneers Bonhams is delighted to announce an exhibition of Edward Seago’s paintings of the Antarctic, on display at 101 New Bond Street, their principal London showrooms, by kind permission of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The exhibition will run from Sunday 27 May to Friday 15 June (however please note that it will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday, 28 May) Viewing times: Sundays 11-3; weekdays 9-4.30; closed on Saturdays.
Visit Bonhams
Edward Seago's Antarctic paintings were executed exactly 50 years ago during HRH Prince Philip's tour of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, during the austral summer of 1956-7. From The Duke of Edinburgh's private collection, they have rarely been placed on public view since being exhibited at St. James's Palace upon the ship's return in 1957.
Read a Brief Summary of the Bonhams exhibition (NB closed on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Monday)
The Bonhams exhibition also lends support to an Appeal in aid of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge in preserving the UK’s Polar Heritage, and marks the launch of a new book about Seago’s paintings from the voyage.
Read Full Details of the Antarctic Paintings Exhibition at Bonhams
This Edward Seago Exhibition will provide an intriguing chance to see the Antarctic through the eyes of one of this country’s best known marine artists, voyaging aboard Britannia in some of world's most hostile marine environments. Indeed Seago's vivid series of Antarctic land and seascapes are among the first extensive series by a British artist depicting that icy continent since those of Shackleton's artist George Marston in 1907-9 and 1914-16.
Despite being in the far south (the Antarctic, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia) for barely three weeks, Seago was able to produce paintings showing the many strange physical phenomena, the rapid changes of light and enthralling, unexpected range of colours found in the Antarctic, as well as thriving bases and men at work, and the Antarctic whalers who were still active at that time. As Prince Philip himself recalled, Seago "always seemed to have a pencil in his hand, and with just a few lines could reproduce all the atmosphere and 'feel' of a place with the smallest pencil sketch." Among the Seago paintings are images of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh painting on the veranda deck of HMY Britannia, storms at sea, icebergs, Port Stanley harbour, the cross on Sir Ernest Shackleton’s grave, ice floes, the RRS John Briscoe in an ice pack and Britannia passing through the spectacular Neumayer and Lemaire Channels.
Read about a previous Seago display and other events at the Scott Polar website
Visit a Seago picture gallery online
Edward Seago (1910-1974) is best known as a painter of landscapes and marine views. Born in Norwich, he spent much of his early life in rural Norfolk, and his paintings, in oils and watercolours, follow the tradition of the Norwich School. He contributed paintings to a number of books of poems by his friend John Masefield. He was one of the official artists at the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1952 and also painted several other royal portraits, including of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Princess Margaret.
The fully-illustrated book The Antarctic Paintings of Edward Seago by the Scott Polar’s Director, Julian Dowdeswell, and SPRI Librarian, Heather Lane, 98 pages, with a foreword by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (SPRI 2006) ISBN 0901021059. ISBN 13:9780901021052 will be on sale during the Bonhams exhibition, priced £30, with all proceeds going to the Museum of the Scott Polar Research Institute.
The SPRI is seeking £5 million to secure its long-term goals: in particular, support for the conservation of the holdings of the museum, library and archive is urgently needed. The Institute's Director, Prof. Julian Dowdeswell, says "The SPRI is perhaps less well known for its role in conserving these historic materials than for its current scientific research into environmental change, but the heritage role is no less important and one for which public support is urgently needed." The SPRI’s collections are unrivalled as a resource for Britain’s Polar Heritage; they are especially strong in manuscripts and objects relating to the expeditions of Scott and Shackleton.
Visit the SPRI's informative website
In addition to the Seago paintings, a selection of the remarkable photographs by Captain Scott’s photographer Herbert Ponting (1870-1935) will also be on display. Ponting, a pioneer of polar photography, accompanied Robert Falcon Scott on his ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition to the Ross Sea and South Pole between 1910 and 1913. The impressive photographs are kindly on loan to Bonhams from the SPRI. Also accompanying the exhibition will be a display of archives, historic photographs and artefacts, also held by the SPRI, illustrating the history of polar exploration and science.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is the world's oldest and largest auctioneer of fine art and antiques still in British ownership. It has salerooms in New Bond Street and Knightsbridge, and eight more throughout the UK. In 2002 the company acquired the US West Coast auctioneers Butterfields, and in 2003 Goodmans, a leading Australian auctioneer (covering esepcially Sydney and Melbourne), joined the Group. Sales are held in Switzerland, Monaco, Australia and the USA (in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
<< Society Forum History News Publications Membership >> |
 Pic Thomas Gibson Fine Art 405 315.jpg "A view of Leith Harbour or possibly Grytviken), South Georgia, on board (50 x 65 cm) (Picture courtesy of Bonhams and Thomas Gibson Fine Art )")
 Pic Thomas Gibson Fine Art 271 190.jpg "Seago's arresting depiction of HMY 'Britannia' passing through the Neumayer Channel, oil on board (26 x 39 cm) (Picture courtesy of Bonhams and Thomas Gibson Fine Art )")
