| |
Historical Artist - John Duncan Fergusson (1874 - 1961)
John Duncan Fergusson, Scottish painter and occasional sculpture, was the leading figure of the
Scottish Colourists. He mostly painted landscapes and figures, initially in the style of
Whistler. Beginning in 1895, Fergusson made frequent trips to Paris, eventually moving there
from 1907 to 1914. Early during his period in France, his work was influenced by Manet, but by
1907, he adopted Fauvism. Fergusson returned to Britain in 1914 because of the war, living in
London until 1929. He then returned to Paris until 1940. From 1940 to his death, Fergusson lived
in Glascow where he founded the New Art Club. He was also the editor of the journal, Scottish
Art and Letters and wrote a book, Modern Scottish Painting. At the beginning of the twentieth
century Paris was seeing an explosion of artistic talent and Fergusson was very much a part of
this. In the café society of Paris, Fergusson rubbed shoulders with artists such as
Matisse and Picasso. By the outbreak of World War I, Fergusson was considered to be at the
forefront of modern British painting. During the war years, however, he achieved little
artistically and it was only towards the end of the war that he regained the momentum in his
work. In the 1920s Fergusson was settled in a studio in London. His first solo exhibition was in
1923 and he was also involved in several important group exhibitions. In 1928 he and his
partner, the dancer Margaret Morris, moved to Paris where they lived until the spectre of war
once again loomed over Europe, prompting the couple to move to Glasgow in 1939 where they were
to remain for the rest of their lives.
Contemporary United Kingdom Artists
Art Galleries in the United Kingdom
|
