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Lot Essay
With strong, flat applications of vivid colour, The German Tankard is an early example of Cadell’s distinctively bold and elegant approach to the still life. Dominating the picture, the bright bouquet fans out, the eye dancing around the yellows, purples, pinks and reds which are punctuated by green leaves. A picture of dynamism and colour, the bouquet draws the viewer in. Yet, as the title refers to, the highlight of the work is the inclusion of a German tankard; its flower design reflecting the vase behind.
A Scottish Colourist, Cadell was the youngest of the four artists and the only one who fought during the First World War. Between 1899 and 1902, Cadell studied at the liberal Académie Julien in Paris, where he became fascinated by – along with his Scottish contemporaries – the work of the Post-Impressionists. In this early work, such an influence is clear: defined by the exuberant blocks of colour and lively brushwork.
Painted in 1907 in Munich, The German Tankard pays homage to his year studying at the Akademie der Bildenden, which provided him with a broad history of European painting. The German tankard stands out as a beacon of light against the varied bouquet. With a brush loaded with white paint, Cadell elegantly captured the reflective surface of the vessel. The following year, the young artist would return to Scotland, with the first solo exhibition of his work hosted in Edinburgh. This early example of his expressive style casts an insight into his later celebrated depiction of domestic scenes captured through bright colour.
A Scottish Colourist, Cadell was the youngest of the four artists and the only one who fought during the First World War. Between 1899 and 1902, Cadell studied at the liberal Académie Julien in Paris, where he became fascinated by – along with his Scottish contemporaries – the work of the Post-Impressionists. In this early work, such an influence is clear: defined by the exuberant blocks of colour and lively brushwork.
Painted in 1907 in Munich, The German Tankard pays homage to his year studying at the Akademie der Bildenden, which provided him with a broad history of European painting. The German tankard stands out as a beacon of light against the varied bouquet. With a brush loaded with white paint, Cadell elegantly captured the reflective surface of the vessel. The following year, the young artist would return to Scotland, with the first solo exhibition of his work hosted in Edinburgh. This early example of his expressive style casts an insight into his later celebrated depiction of domestic scenes captured through bright colour.