23rd Apr, 2026 10:00
John Tunnard – The Brian Whitton Collection: Their Lives and Work
§ John Tunnard - Ascension | mixed media
John Tunnard
"Ascension (Pink Dance)'',
gouache, watercolour, crayon and pen,
signed and dated 1945, D169,
34 x 55cms, 55 x 72cms in frame.
Provenance:
- Transferred to Leger, Dec 1945
- Christie's South Kensington, 20th Century British Art, 13 December 1999, Lot 196, previously titled 'Surreal Seascape'
- Grey College, Durham, 29th September 2000-22nd October 2000, No. 25.
Literature:
Alan Peat and Brian A. Whitton, John Tunnard, His Life and Work, Scolar Press, 1997, cat 418
Information Source:
Tunnard personal record D.169, 'pink dance'/
Notes:
From Grey College label "The first painting that reflects the ending of the Second World War; it was started on the day after long celebrations for V-J Day. Tunnard loved dancing and gained a reputation for dancing on a table at parties late into the night." This work shows the excitement and expectation of the future, now within grasp after the Second World War. It also shows the influence of the sea, probably from his days as a Watchman in the Auxiliary Coastguard, rather than the dark, dramatic figures in previous works like Abstract Landscape 1942. We see a female dancer full of life, being lifted by the figural form beside her, while a mirrored reflection makes music, the stave sweeping past them, playing long into the night. Tunnard expanded on the white figure of the dancer over the next few years, and is almost certainly the inspiration for the joyful figures used in Holiday, 1946, produced for the School Print Series.
Sold for £13,000
IN PERSON: If you want to experience the atmosphere of the Auction Room the best way to do this is always to turn up in person. You simply register your personal details at Reception (so leave at least 10 minutes for this before your lot in case there is a queue) and you are issued with a paddle number which you hold up to the auctioneer when you wish to bid. If you haven't done so already you can view your lot(s) this way on the same day. There is time before each auction starts to do this however if you ask the staff on duty they can bring lots to you for inspection if the auction has began.
COMMISSION/ABSENTEE BID: If you are unable to attend the sale in person or would like the Auctioneer to bid on your behalf you can leave a bid on our website when registered (up to 30 minutes before the auction begins) and you'll receive and e-mail confirming them. Alternatively, send them to bids@andersonandgarland.com or telephone our team on 0191 430 3000 and we'll be happy to add them for you. We will try to secure the item for you as reasonably as is allowed by other bids and the reserve price, if any. Commissions placed by telephone, fax or e-mail are made only at the buyer's own risk.
INTERNET BIDDING: You an also bid live via our website. When choosing to bid live via www.andersonandgarland.com you will need to register, using a bank card, to verify your address details. We would ask for you to register before the sale to make sure that you are verified for when you come to bid in the auction. To bid live on the sale day you will access the sale by going to www.andersonandgarland.com and clicking on the sale this will have a grey banner across the sale photograph which says 'bid live'. Please click on this and it will take you to the sale. Please note the bid live banner only appears once the sale commences on the sale day and is not there beforehand.
You can also bid live on www.the-saleroom.com however this is hosting site charges an additional 6% (plus VAT).
TELEPHONE: Telephone bids are only available for lots estimated at over £250. Lots which are bought for less than £250 via telephone bidding will incur a £10 (plus VAT) per lot charge. We only accept telephone bidding registrations up to the day prior to the lot in question going under the hammer. At the point of registration all new bidders will be required to submit proof of identification and address. This can be either a current driver's licence or ID card showing the registered address, or a passport together with a recent utility bill bearing the registered address which can be emailed to a.orgill@andersonandgarland.com. Only when this identification is received can the registration process be completed and your telephone line will then be secured for you. As the number of telephone lines are limited, early booking is recommended. (We also recommend that you leave an “emergency cover bid" in case we are unable to reach you by telephone). Please note - there are inherent dangers with telephone bidding; despite our best efforts, Anderson & Garland Ltd. may be unable to contact the intending bidder at the appropriate time. All such arrangements are therefore made entirely at the intending bidder’s risk.
Auction: John Tunnard – The Brian Whitton Collection: Their Lives and Work, 23rd Apr, 2026
Click the 'View' button on the right to view higlights from this sale.
Viewing
Tues 21/04/26 10am - 3pm
Wed 22/04/26 10am - 3pm
Have you got something like this that you'd like to Auction? Just let us know and we'll be pleased to give you some advice.
