Wednesday 20 December 2017

Clare Leighton.


                                  Résultat de recherche d'images pour "The Farmer's Year"

I'm lucky to own a copy of this wonderful book, mine with an extremely torn and tatty dust cover.

However, it's not the outside that matters, it's all about Clare Leighton's magnificent illustrations.

                                Résultat de recherche d'images pour "The farmers year"

These are two of my favourites from the book; lopping the Willows (February), above, and ploughing (November) below.

                                Résultat de recherche d'images pour "the farmer's year clare leighton"

I'm not sure what other work Ms Leighton produced, but her month by month Farmer's Year is a total delight, and it's what she's mostly known for.

Google images should supply the rest of the illustrations.



27 comments:

  1. I just googled her and see she has lots of other books and woodcut engravings - on e-bay a first edition of A Farmers Year for $1,414.00

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    1. I wonder how much my one is worth; certainly not $1,400. Mine is also a first edition, but quite scruffy.

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  2. I like those pictures. I wonder if this book is available at the Guttenberg site. I'll pop over and check.

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    1. She was a wonderful artist. Wood block engraving is very unforgiving.

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  3. Wonderful illustrations. I'm going to do a quick search as well. I would like to see and read more

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    1. She's worth looking at; especially the rest of the illustrations from the book.

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  4. Coincidence! I dreamed last night that I threw out a very old newspaper which I was desperately trying to fish out from the street dustbins after my grandfather appeared telling me he had his savings hidden inside each page.
    I like the second illustration. I am going to go read about her now.
    Greetings Maria x

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    1. 'Frustration' dreams are very upsetting, and can bug you for days, but how many of us ever have 'achievement' dreams?

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  5. I can see why you would like them, especially the top one. The bottom one is a little too 'heroic' I think.

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  6. I do love her work. I looked up more this morning and had no idea she was so prolific. She led an interesting life with bohemian mother. I will see if I can find a copy of her biography of her mother. I note I share the same birthday as Miss Leighton.

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    Replies
    1. I was wondering if she shared a family link with my old friend, the painter Sara Leighton, but I think not.

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    2. She seems to have led a rather sad childhood and was not particularly lucky in love either. No wonder she went to live abroad.

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    3. She wasn't what you'd call 'glamorous'.

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  7. Reminds me of the Lino cut we have just bought

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  8. I've had it on my Amazon wish list for ever but it's either unavailable or £50+ so it's not likely to ever get here. Stupidly sold a copy of Four Hedges when we were buying and selling country books at shows. That was before I appreciated the drawings

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    Replies
    1. Fifty quid doesn't sound bad. You could probably put it straight back on Ebay, and double your money!

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  9. I like what I see. Gosh, the last one is just brilliant.

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    1. She manages to put great power into her images.

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  10. Reminds me of images from the 1920's and 30's in the USA.

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    Replies
    1. I think this book was first published in the 1930's.

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  11. Reminds me of Rockwell Kent. Same period.

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  12. Wonderful, Reminds me of Thomas Hart Benton and the American Artist of the 1930 and early 40's.

    cheers, parsnip

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  13. Wonderful pictures Cro - I love the easy flow of the lines.

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