Eric Ravilious

The Greenhouse: Cyclamen and Tomatoes

1935

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Not on display

Artist: Eric Ravilious 1903–1942
Medium: Watercolour and graphite on paper
Dimensions: Support: 470 × 597 mm
frame: 720 × 854 × 20 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by Sir Geoffrey and the Hon. Lady Fry in memory of the artist 1943
Reference: N05402

Catalogue entry

N05402 THE GREENHOUSE: CYCLAMEN AND TOMATOES 1935

Inscr. ‘Eric Ravilious Firle 1935’ b.r.
Watercolour, 18 1/2×23 1/2 (47×59·5).
Presented in memory of the artist by Sir Geoffrey and the Hon. Lady Fry 1943.
Coll: Purchased by Sir Geoffrey Fry from the artist through the Zwemmer Gallery February 1936.
Exh: Zwemmer Gallery, February 1936 (5), as ‘Cyclamen and Tomatoes’; British Council, Exhibition of Contemporary British Art, Northern Capitals, March–May 1939 (201), as ‘Cyclamen and Tomatoes’; Eastbourne and Brighton, 1948 (36); Arts Council, 1948–9 (10).

According to information provided by John Nash (letter of 24 February 1959), this watercolour and another of a vine covered with grapes were painted in the nursery garden of an old man at Firle. At that time Ravilious and his wife were staying with Peggy Angus at The Furlongs, Beddingham, the next village under the Downs to Firle. In a letter (8 March 1959) Peggy Angus states: ‘We used to get fresh vegetables from the Market Garden at Firle. It was part of Firle Place, Lord Gage's country Seat and in the garden the first greengage was grown. At that time the garden was let to a Mr Humphrey’.

Published in:
Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture, London 1964, II