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Inspiration from Artists Week 81 : SAMUEL JOHN PEPLOE and JOHN COONEY
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Posted
SAMUEL JOHN PEPLOE (1871 - 1935) was a Scottish Post-Impressionist painter noted for his still life works. He was also one of a group of four artists who became known as the Scottish Colourists.
Born in Edinburgh, he was initially apprenticed at the age of 14 as a trainee lawyer, but in 1889 began studying art at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh. He later studied art in Paris and lived there from 1910 to 1913. During this time in Paris he moved from an Impressionist style to one influenced by Cezanne and the Fauves, but later his work became less aggressively modern. It was through painting holidays in Northern France that he was introduced to the use of bold colour, inspired by the bright sunlight. He later experienced the same intensity of light while painting on the Island of Iona off the west coast of Scotland.
French painting proved to be a powerful influence on Peploe throughout his life, and although his work never became overly abstract, it was characterised by its use of strong colour. His still life work shows the influence of Manet, with the combination of fluid brushwork, thick impasto and dark backgrounds with strong lighting.
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One of my favourite artists of the Colourist Jenny.
As you can imagine there are lots of opportunities to see Peploe’s work here in Scotland, in galleries and in private collections when they go on show. Kelvin Grove Gallery has a large collection.
His grandson, Guy Peploe is the managing director of the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh and has a wealth of knowledge of his grandfather, as well as his paintings and sketchbooks. He lectures on Samuel Peploe and Cadell, and other Scottish artists including Joan Eardley.
If you Google Guy there are quite a few of his talks on line.
There is an artist called Ewan McClure who Marjorie and myself favour, he is the artist-in-residence at Broughton House in Kirkcudbright, which is your last painting I believe, and was the home of Hornel one of the Glasgow boys.
Ewan studied the work of Peploe having had private access to his sketchbooks, diaries etc. and his early landscape style is in some instances a reminder of Peploe’s. Ewan is probably most well know for his portraiture and still life work.
Peploe himself stayed in Kirkcudbright for some time and there is a good collection of his work in the Kirkcudbright gallery….including again the last of your painting examples.
I’ll find a few of my favourites and post later……well chosen Jenny.
Posted
I knew he was one of your favourite artists, Fiona, from another forum thread we had some time ago (so knew it would get at least one response!). I’d always liked another of the Scottish Colourists, J. D. Fergusson, but wasn’t really aware of Peploe’s work until then. Now I prefer his work, love his bold style and use of colour in both his still life and landscape paintings. Look forward to seeing some of your favourites.
Edited
by Jenny Harris
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I love Peploe’s work , and can see the influence of Cezanne and Manet who are also among my favourite artists. His style as Jenny says is bold and striking, and I do like the use of dark lines around some of his subject matter. His painting of light and colour is wonderful.
Ewan McClure is the chap who won PAOTY a few years ago isn’t he? brilliant portraits.
I acquired a lovely book recently of The Glasgow Boys work which is superb. I will look further. Another super choice.
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Here’s another fan of the Glasgow Boys. As well as Ewan, Lachlan Goudie and his father were great fans and it is evident in their work. We always say that no one has an “ original” or “ unique” style, we all take inspiration from other artists…Cézanne’s work is very noticeable in Peploe’s work.
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I do like to see paintings which make you want to get your own paints and brushes out, and this painter is very certainly one of those who inspires me.
I like a "colourist", too, who doesn't go ballistic with colour at the expense of tone: there are several of those working right now, also calling themselves colourists, who - and I'm looking at you, Scott Naismith - just fly several miles over the top.
