John (1893) Armstrong Paintings & Artwork for Sale | John (1893) Armstrong Art Value Price Guide

Nov. 27, 2024
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) The Cypriot Pot
Est: £1,800 - £2,500
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) The Cypriot Pot signed and indistinctly dated 'John Armstrong 61' (upper left) oil on canvas 36 x 40.5cm (14 3/16 x 15 15/16in).
Bonhams
Nov. 26, 2024
John Armstrong ARA, Abstract 5, 1964
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
John Armstrong ARA, British 1893-1973 - Abstract 5, 1964; oil on board, signed and dated lower right 'John Armstrong 64', 29.7 x 20.7 cm (ARR) Provenance: with New Grafton Gallery, London; Pyms Gallery, London, stock no.C786 (label attached to the reverse) Exhibited: Fermoy Art Gallery, King's Lynn, 'John Armstrong Paintings', 1977 (according to the label attached to the reverse); London, New Grafton Gallery, 'John Armstrong', March-April 1984
Roseberys
Nov. 20, 2024
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) The Musician 52 x 39.2 cm. (20 1/2 x 15 3/8 in.) (Painted circa 1929)
Est: £7,000 - £10,000
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) The Musician signed with initials 'JA' (lower right) tempera on board 52 x 39.2 cm. (20 1/2 x 15 3/8 in.) Painted circa 1929
Bonhams
Oct. 25, 2024
§ John Rutherford Armstrong ARA (1893-1973)
Est: £300 - £500
§ John Rutherford Armstrong ARA (1893-1973) Study of two female nudes pencil 42 x 51cm Provenance: The Collection of Lord Myners, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Tate
Cheffins
Jul. 17, 2024
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Figure and Wild Plants on a Hillside (Painted circa 1930-5)
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Figure and Wild Plants on a Hillside signed with initials 'JA' (lower right) tempera and pencil on board 63.5 x 50.5cm (25 x 19 7/8in). Painted circa 1930-5
Bonhams
Jul. 11, 2024
λ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH 1893-1973), TWO BROWN JUGS
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
λ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH 1893-1973)TWO BROWN JUGSOil on boardSigned and dated 58 (lower left)40.5 x 35.5cm (15¾ x 13¾ in.)Provenance:Purchased directly from the Artist by Mr Don Hewitt by 1958 (who was introduced to the Artist by Miss Gerda Larsen, film and television actress)Sale, Sotheby's, London, 25th March 2009, lot 50 (unsold)Sale, Bonhams 11th March 2014, lot 28Literature:Andrew Lambirth, John Armstrong: The Paintings, Catalogue Raisonné by Annette Armstrong & Jonathan Gibbs, London, 2009, no. 649
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Jun. 27, 2024
† John Armstrong (1893-1973), Beatrice from “Much Ado About Nothing”, pencil and gouache, signed with initials 'JA' (lower right) and inscribed 38 cm x 27 cm.
Est: £500 - £700
† John Armstrong (1893-1973), Beatrice from “Much Ado About Nothing”, pencil and gouache, signed with initials 'JA' (lower right) and inscribed 38 cm x 27 cm. Private collection, deceased estate. Moore-Gwyn Fine Art Ltd label verso
Dawsons Auctioneers
Apr. 13, 2024
JOHN ARMSTRONG, BRITAIN - SCOTLAND YOUR KIND OF COUNTRY, POSTER
Est: $650 - $850
Artist: John Armstrong, British (1893 - 1973) Title: Britain - Scotland Your Kind of Country Year: 1968 Medium: Poster Size: 40 x 25 in. (101.6 x 63.5 cm)
RoGallery
Mar. 13, 2024
λ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH 1893-1973), TWO BROWN JUGS
Est: £4,000 - £6,000
λ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH 1893-1973)TWO BROWN JUGSOil on boardSigned and dated 58 (lower left)40.5 x 35.5cm (15¾ x 13¾ in.)Provenance:Purchased directly from the Artist by Mr Don Hewitt by 1958 (who was introduced to the Artist by Miss Gerda Larsen, film and television actress)Sale, Sotheby's, London, 25th March 2009, lot 50 (unsold)Sale, Bonhams 11th March 2014, lot 28Literature:Andrew Lambirth, John Armstrong: The Paintings, Catalogue Raisonné by Annette Armstrong & Jonathan Gibbs, London, 2009, no. 649
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Mar. 12, 2024
John Armstrong ARA, British 1893-1973 - Still Life with Mushrooms, 1961;
Est: £600 - £800
John Armstrong ARA, British 1893-1973 - Still Life with Mushrooms, 1961; oil on canvas, signed and dated upper left 'John Armstrong 61', 27.8 x 32.8 cm (ARR) Literature: Andrew Lambirth, 'John Armstrong: The Complete Paintings, Catalogue Raisonne', London: Philip Wilson Publishers, 2009, no.726
Roseberys
Mar. 12, 2024
John Amstrong ARA, British 189311973 - Brown Abstract (6), 1965; oil o
Est: £1,000 - £2,000
John Amstrong ARA, British 189311973 - Brown Abstract (6), 1965; oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right 'John Armstrong 65', 40.9 x 35.5 cm (unframed) (ARR) Literature: Andrew Manbirth, 'John Armstrong: The Complete Paintings, Catalogue Raisonne', London: Philip Wilson Publishers, 2009, no.812
Roseberys
Dec. 12, 2023
John Armstrong ARA (British, 1893-1973), 'Roses burning over the sea', oil on board, 37 x 52cm
Est: £500 - £800
§ John Armstrong ARA (British, 1893-1973) 'Roses burning over the sea' oil on board signed and dated '57
Gorringes
Nov. 04, 2023
JOHN ARMSTRONG, BRITAIN - SCOTLAND YOUR KIND OF COUNTRY, POSTER
Est: $600 - $900
Artist: John Armstrong, British (1893 - 1973) Title: Britain - Scotland Your Kind of Country Year: 1968 Medium: Poster Size: 40 x 25 in. (101.6 x 63.5 cm)
RoGallery
Oct. 27, 2023
§ John Armstrong (British 1893-1973) Algerian Landscape I, circa 1930
Est: £4,000 - £6,000
§ John Armstrong (British 1893-1973) Algerian Landscape I, circa 1930 initialled (upper right), oil on canvas (42.3cm x 52cm (16 5/8in x 20 1/2in)) Provenance Annette Armstrong, wife of the Artist; The Mayor Gallery, London, 1985; Private Collection, London. Literature Andrew Lambirth, John Armstrong: The Paintings, London: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd., 2009, pp.160-1, cat. no.99, illustrated. Exhibited The New Art Centre, London.
Lyon & Turnbull
Oct. 25, 2023
λ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH 1893-1973), BROKEN WALL OF A FORTRESS
Est: £6,000 - £8,000
λ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH 1893-1973)BROKEN WALL OF A FORTRESSTempera on panelSigned with initials and dated 39 (lower right)20 x 16cm (7¾ x 6¼ in.)Provenance:Sale, Christie's, London, 22 February 1980, lot 164Michael Parkin Fine Art, LondonAcquired from the above by the present ownerWe are grateful to Jonathan Gibbs for his kind assistance in cataloguing this lot.
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Oct. 17, 2023
John Rutherford Armstrong ARA (1893-1973)
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
John Rutherford Armstrong ARA (1893-1973) ▴ John Rutherford Armstrong ARA (1893-1973) Nude hanging washing signed with initials and dated '27' l.r., tempera on board 52 x 54cm Provenance: With the Leicester Galleries, London, late 1920s. Condition Report: Very dirty. Abrasians and paint losses especially to blue painted areas. Please contact department for extra details and images.
Sworders
Jul. 12, 2023
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Balloons
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Balloons signed and dated 'John Armstrong 57' (lower right) oil on paper, laid on board 16.5 x 23cm (6 1/2 x 9 1/16in).
Bonhams
Jul. 12, 2023
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Figures in a Landscape (Painted circa 1930-31)
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Figures in a Landscape signed with initials 'JA' (lower right) watercolour and pencil on paper 14.5 x 20cm (5 11/16 x 7 7/8in). Painted circa 1930-31
Bonhams
Jun. 03, 2023
John Armstrong, Britain - Scotland Your Kind of Country, Poster
Est: $600 - $900
Artist: John Armstrong, British (1893 - 1973) Title: Britain - Scotland Your Kind of Country Year: 1968 Medium: Poster Size: 40 x 25 in. (101.6 x 63.5 cm)
RoGallery
Mar. 22, 2023
JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1983-1973) Abstract V tempera on board 10 1/4 x 6 3
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1983-1973) Abstract V tempera on board 10 1/4 x 6 3/4 in. (26 x 17.2 cm.)
Christie's
Mar. 15, 2023
λ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH 1893-1973), MONASTIC TOCSIN
Est: £800 - £1,200
λ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH 1893-1973)MONASTIC TOCSINOil on paperSigned and dated 63 (lower right)33 x 25cm (12 x 9¾ in.)Provenance:Acquired from the wife of the artist by the present owner in 1973Literature:Andrew Lambirth, John Armstrong: The Paintings, London, 2009, p. 226, no. 747
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Feb. 22, 2023
§ JOHN ARMSTRONG ARA (BRITISH 1893-1973)
Est: £400 - £600
JOHN ARMSTRONG ARA (BRITISH 1893-1973) Royal Mail AD 1935 offset lithographic poster in colours on wove image 43 x 56cm framed ARR
Chiswick Auctions
Dec. 13, 2022
Â§ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH, 1893â1973)
Est: £1,500 - £2,000
Â§ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH, 1893â1973) JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH, 1893â1973) The Harpist signed with initials 'JA' (lower right) oil on canvas 61.1 x 33 cm. (24 x 13 in) Provenance Sale; Sotheby's, London, 4 Oct 1995, lot 233 ARR
Chiswick Auctions
Oct. 20, 2022
JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973) Group of Figures JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973) /Group of Fig
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973) Group of Figures JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973) /Group of Figures/ signed with initials and dated 'JA 45' (lower left) tempera on board 6 3/4 x 8 3/4 in. (17.1 x 22.2 cm.) Painted in 1945.
Christie's
Oct. 19, 2022
λ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH 1893-1973), THE CLOWN
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
λ JOHN ARMSTRONG (BRITISH 1893-1973)THE CLOWNOil on canvas-boardSigned with monogram and dated 51 (lower right) 22.5 x 13cm (8¾ x 5 in.)Provenance:J. P. L. Fine Arts, London Sale, Sotheby's, London, 24 March 1983, lot 34Sale, Phillips, London, 9 May 1989, lot 163Sandra Lummis Fine Art, London Literature:Andrew Lambirth, John Armstrong: The Complete Paintings, Chichester, 2009, p. 198, no. 407Armstrong uses the clown as an image of Everyman, and at the same time an opportunity for colour and interest in costume. The tattered umbrella symbolises the inadequate beliefs with which men shelter (or attempt to shelter) from the troubles, problems and confusion in the world. At this date Armstrong was deeply concerned by the threat of global thermonuclear conflict, and much of his work reflects man's blindness to the futility and folly of leadership which could contemplate such an event.We are grateful Jonathan Gibbs for his kind assistance in cataloguing this lot.
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Jun. 22, 2022
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Three feathers 35.3 x 29.2 cm. (13 7/8 x 11 1/2 in.)
Est: £12,000 - £18,000
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Three feathers signed with initials and dated 'JA/47' (lower left) tempera on thick card 35.3 x 29.2 cm. (13 7/8 x 11 1/2 in.) For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Bonhams
May. 19, 2022
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973). THEATRE - GOERS USE SHELL / YOU CAN BE SURE OF SHELL. 1938. 29½x44 inches, 75x111¾ cm. [Waterlow, London.]
Est: $800 - $1,200
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973) THEATRE - GOERS USE SHELL / YOU CAN BE SURE OF SHELL. 1938. 29 1/2x44 inches, 75x111 3/4 cm. [Waterlow, London.] Condition B+: repaired tears, creases and restoration in margins and along vertical and horizontal folds; faint staining in image. After initially studying law, and working as an official war artist in WWI, Armstrong's career included not only poster advertising and mural art for Shell, but also film and stage sets, book illustrations and painting. His eight-panel mural commissioned for the Shell-Mex House, entitled Transport through the Ages, illustrated the before and after impact of Shell on various forms of transportation. While influenced by Classical Greek art, his affinity for Surrealism is even more evident in his Shell posters.
Swann Auction Galleries
Apr. 13, 2022
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Abstract Linear
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Abstract Linear signed and dated 'John Armstrong 65' (lower right) oil on canvas 75.5 x 50cm (29 3/4 x 19 11/16in). For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Bonhams
Apr. 07, 2022
Â§ JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973)
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
Â§ JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973) JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973) Pain Eluded signed and dated John Armstrong 54 (lower right) oil on canvas 61 x 91.4 cm (24 x 36 in) PROVENANCE: Sale; Sothebyâs, London, 12 November 1975, lot 28 (Â£220) Sale; Bonhams, London, 17 November 2015, lot 173 (Â£5250) LITERATURE: A.Lambirth (ed.), John Armstrong; The Paintings, London, 2009, p. 204, no. 481 Born in Sussex, the third son of a clergyman, John Armstrong A.R.A. (1893-1973) was an artist with varied and often surrealist outputs. Initially embarking on studying Law at St. Johnâs College, Oxford, Armstrong later decided to switch to art, at which point he became a student at St Johnâs Wood Art School. Armstrongâs oeuvre is predominantly categorised in terms of his early painting in tempera, and his subsequent later work in oil. Appling oils in separated touches with a square-headed Courbet brush, Armstrong developed a strong divisionist style of painting in his work. Dabs of colour bring a textural animation to the picture surface with patches of paint laid down equably on a darker surface. Adapted from his techniques in tempera painting, he was very methodical in his production of oil paintings. During World War Two, Armstrong worked as an official war artist undertaking short contracts for the War Artist's Advisory Committee, WAAC. In the ten years proceeding the war Armstrong isolated himself in Cornwall, though making occassional trips to London on a monthly basis. In his isolation,he was cut off from the hub of the English art world. Choosing not to associate with the St Ives School of Abstraction local to him in Cornwall, Armstrong continued to plough his lonely furrow. Pain Eluded was commissioned for a chapel in the West Country, thought to be for a ceiling. Armstrong painted two versions of this picture, of which this is the larger. This subject was created in 1954, months before he decided to leave his Cornwall years for good.
Chiswick Auctions
Apr. 07, 2022
Â§ JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973)
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
Â§ JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973) JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973) Danae signed and dated John Armstrong 1963 (lower right) oil on canvas 48.9 x 74.9 cm (19 1/4 x 29 1/2 in) PROVENANCE: Sale, Bonhams, London, 17 November 2015, lot 172 LITERATURE: A.Lambirth (ed.), John Armstrong; The Paintings, London, 2009, p. 226, no. 745 EXHIBITION: London, Molton & Lords, 1963, catalogue unnumbered Born in Sussex, the third son of a clergyman, John Armstrong A.R.A. (1893-1973) was an artist with varied and often surrealist outputs. Initially embarking on studying Law at St. Johnâs College, Oxford, Armstrong later decided to switch to art, at which point he became a student at St Johnâs Wood Art School. Armstrongâs oeuvre is predominantly categorised in terms of his early painting in tempera, and his subsequent later work in oil. Appling oils in separated touches with a square-headed Courbet brush, Armstrong developed a strong divisionist style of painting in his work. Dabs of colour bring a textural animation to the picture surface with patches of paint laid down equably on a darker surface. Adapted from his techniques in tempera painting, he was very methodical in his production of oil paintings. Danae was created in 1963, months after Armstrong was diagnosed with Parkinsonâs disease. The work was also created for his last one-man show, held at the Molton and Lords Gallery in South Molton Street, London, in the same year. A writer in The Times (26 November 1963) was particularly impressed by the simplicity of his new paintings compared to the surrealist work in Armstrongâs early years. The article notes the âstrangely impersonal styleâ alongside its intriguing formality. The composition of Danae is long and low to increase the feeling of oppression. This Danae is an abused and desolate woman, visualised as a contemporary victim. She is shown in isolation, framed as if on stage. Presented in a closed space scene and provided no way out. This painting may well have been a personal statement about the physical restrictions to which he was himself increasingly subject.
Chiswick Auctions
Mar. 08, 2022
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973) The lake (Executed in 1955)
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973) The lake signed and dated 'John Armstrong/55' (lower right) oil on paper laid to board 46 x 31.1cm (18 1/8 x 12 1/4in). Executed in 1955 For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Bonhams
Mar. 08, 2022
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973) On the Promenade (Painted in 1947)
Est: £40,000 - £60,000
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973) On the Promenade signed with initials and dated 'JA/47' (lower right); inscribed 'Struggle by the Sea' (on the reverse) tempera on board 41 x 33.5cm (16 1/8 x 13 3/16in). Painted in 1947 For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Bonhams
Feb. 24, 2022
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973). THESE MEN USE SHELL / YOU CAN BE SURE OF SHELL / FARMERS. 1939. 28¾x43½ inches, 73x110½ cm. [Waterlow, Lon
Est: $600 - $900
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973) THESE MEN USE SHELL / YOU CAN BE SURE OF SHELL / FARMERS. 1939. 28 3/4x43 1/2 inches, 73x110 1/2 cm. [Waterlow, London.] Condition A. Framed.
Swann Auction Galleries
Apr. 29, 2021
John Armstrong (1893-1973) Theatre-Goers Use Shell
Est: £700 - £900
lithographic poster, 1938, condition A; not backed, framed (Dimensions: 76cm x 114cm (30in x 45in)) (76cm x 114cm (30in x 45in))
Lyon & Turnbull
Apr. 29, 2021
John Armstrong (1893-1973) Farmers use Shell
Est: £500 - £700
lithographic poster, 1939, condition A; not backed (Dimensions: 76cm x 114cm (30in x 45in)) (76cm x 114cm (30in x 45in)) Footnote: Literature: Hewitt, The Shell Poster Book, 94.
Lyon & Turnbull
Apr. 29, 2021
John Armstrong (1893-1973) Near Lamorna
Est: £300 - £500
lithographic poster, 1952, condition A-; not backed (Dimensions: 76cm x 102cm (30in x 40 in)) (76cm x 102cm (30in x 40 in)) Footnote: Literature: Hewitt, The Shell Poster Book, 103. The ‘Everywhere you Go’ You can be Sure of Shell’ series featured fine landmarks, historical sights and inspiring landscapes, all firmly located in the countryside. It was an idealized view of a rural order much sought after by the middle classes, particularly those from large towns. “By celebrating and making accessible such rural delights, Shell won the plaudits of powerful pressure groups who sought to protect the countryside from urban expansion and the destruction of rural amenities by advertising hoardings”. The first exhibition of these Shell posters took place at the New Burlington Galleries in June 1931. John Armstrong was a British artist and muralist who also designed for film and theatre productions. He is most notable for the Surrealist paintings he produced and was a member of the English avant-garde group, Unit One. His commission for Shell features the Cornish resort of Lamorna. Situated a few miles south of Newlyn, the valley and cove of Lamorna first attracted the attention of artists in the 19th century, including Alfred Munnings and Lamorna Birch, who named himself after the beauty spot. More than 100 painters, sculptors, etchers and potters, as well as writers and poets, are thought to have lived or worked near Lamorna Cove in the first 30 years of the 20th century.
Lyon & Turnbull
Apr. 29, 2021
John Armstrong (1893-1973) Newlands Corner
Est: £500 - £700
lithographic poster, 1932, condition A-; not backed, framed (Dimensions: 76cm x 114cm (30in x 45in)) (76cm x 114cm (30in x 45in)) Footnote: Literature: Hewitt, The Shell Poster Book, 48. The ‘Everywhere you Go, You can be Sure of Shell’ series featured fine landmarks, historical sights and inspiring landscapes, all firmly located in the countryside. It was an idealized view of a rural order much sought after by the middle classes, particularly those from large towns. ‘By celebrating and making accessible such rural delights, Shell won the plaudits of powerful pressure groups who sought to protect the countryside from urban expansion and the destruction of rural amenities by advertising hoardings’. John Rutherford Armstrong was a British artist and muralist who also designed for film and theatre productions. He is most notable for the Surrealist paintings he produced evident here in his portrayal of Newlands Corner. At the heart of the Surrey hills this chalk downland and peaceful woodland is considered an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Lyon & Turnbull
Aug. 04, 2020
Attributed to John Armstrong, A.R.A. (1893-1973) - Costume design for Jason
Est: £300 - £500
Attributed to John Armstrong, A.R.A. (1893-1973) Costume design for Jason Attributed to John Armstrong, A.R.A. (1893-1973)Costume design for Jasonindistinctly signed (lower right) and indistinctly inscribed 'Jason/Gilded brestplate to/be of leather on various material/which will be of as.../to the action-yet at the/same time to be as of gold./Cloak to be heavy and most ...' (upper right)pen and black ink, watercolour and chalk183⁄4 x 131⁄2 in. (47.7 x 34.3 cm.)
Christie's
Feb. 13, 2020
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973). FARMERS / THESE MEN USE SHELL / YOU CAN BE SURE OF SHELL. 1939. 30x44 inches, 76x113 cm. [Waterlow, London.
Est: $800 - $1,200
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973) FARMERS / THESE MEN USE SHELL / YOU CAN BE SURE OF SHELL. 1939. 30x44 3/4 inches, 76 1/4x113 3/4 cm. [Waterlow, London.] Condition A: repaired crease in lower right corner. Shell 82.
Swann Auction Galleries
Oct. 10, 2019
§ John Armstrong, ARA (British, 1893-1973) Rain Dance signed 'John Armstrong' (lower right); dated 1952
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
§ John Armstrong, ARA (British, 1893-1973) Rain Dance signed 'John Armstrong' (lower right); dated 1952 oil on canvas laid on board h:56 w:74 cm Provenance: Sotheby's, London, Sale, 20 July 1988, Lot 218; Brandler Galleries, Brentwood, Essex; Private Collection, UK Literature: A. Lambirth, A. Armstrong and J. Gibbs, John Armstrong: The Paintings, Catalogue Raisonne (London, 2009), no. 448 Other Notes: Born in Hastings, the son of a clergyman, John Armstrong attended St Paul's School in London before pursuing a law degree at St John's College, Oxford. However, he changed his mind and decided to study art instead at St John's Wood Art School in 1913-14. During the First World War, Armstrong served in the Royal Field Artillery in Salonika. After the war he embarked on a career as a theatre designer in London and went on to become a distinguished painter and muralist. It was particularly thanks to his friendship with the actors Elsa Lanchester and Charles Laughton that he succeeded in attracting numerous private collectors. Even though he is best known for his whimsical surrealist paintings, he was far from a conventional Surrealist. His first solo exhibition was at the Leicester Galleries in 1928, at which he showed paintings of mannequin-like figures reminiscent of the model theatre, as the critic Anthony Bertram remarked. In 1933, Armstrong joined the Unit One group formed by Paul Nash and exhibited a series of highly textured semi-abstract works in tempera - a medium which he preferred to oil. It was in the late 1930s that his work became much steeped in Surrealism and French Neo-Romanticism. At the same time, he was an equally prolific designer, notably producing posters for Shell and the Royal Mail, as well as designing costumes for film and theatre productions. During the Second World War, he worked as an official war artist, being commissioned by the War Artists' Advisory Committee to record the consequences of war. In the late 1940s, Armstrong gradually distanced himself from Surrealism and espoused the use of symbols in his work.
Cheffins
Sep. 24, 2019
John Armstrong ARA. British 1893-1973- . Surrealist figure in a wooded landscape, 1969
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
John Armstrong ARA, British 1893-1973- Surrealist figure in a wooded landscape, 1969; watercolour and gouache on paper, signed and dated, 39.2x24cm (ARR)
Roseberys
Sep. 24, 2019
John Armstrong ARA, . British 1893-1973- . Pan, triptych, c.1925; . . wa
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
John Armstrong ARA, British 1893-1973- Pan, triptych, c.1925; watercolour on paper laid on three panels, signed on the central panel, 46.5 x 46.5cm max, (3) (in shared mount) (ARR) Provenance: Estate of Mary Spencer Watson; Christie's, South Kensington, 17 Nov 2010, lot 74 Note: The work was originally created to decorate an overmantel in Dunshay Manor, and was possibly painted on site.
Roseberys
Dec. 12, 2018
JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973)
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
JOHN ARMSTRONG, A.R.A. (1893-1973) Yellow Abstract signed and dated 'John Armstrong 60' (lower right), signed again, inscribed and dated 'JOHN ARMSTRONG/Yellow Abstract/60' (on the canvas overlap) oil on canvas 20 x 26 in. (50.8 x 66.1 cm.) Provenance: Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 9 October 1995, lot 232, as 'Yellow and Grey Abstract'. Anonymous sale; Phillips, London, 23 September 1997, lot 52, as 'Abstract Composition in Grey and Yellow'. Anonymous sale; Christie's, South Kensington, 15 July 2010, lot 206, where purchased by the present owner. Exhibited: London, Royal Academy of Art, Summer Exhibition, 1961, no. 97, as 'Abstract'. Artist's Resale Right may apply on this lot.
Chiswick Auctions
Nov. 14, 2018
AR John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Can Spring Be Far Behind 54.1 x 34.2 cm. (21 1/4 x 13 1/2 in.)
Est: £30,000 - £50,000
John Armstrong (British, 1893-1973) Can Spring Be Far Behind signed with initials 'JA' (lower left)tempera on thick card54.1 x 34.2 cm. (21 1/4 x 13 1/2 in.)Painted circa 1943 Provenance: Private Collection, U.K., since the 1990sJohn Armstrong was appointed an Official War Artist in 1940 and tasked by the War Artist's Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Kenneth Clark to 'undertake some work' in recording 'the various aspects of the war' (Andrew Lambirth, John Armstrong, The Paintings, Philip Wilson Publishers, London, 2009, p.175). It is hardly surprising that his first commissions recorded dilapidated and bombed out buildings under the title of Debris and Demolition, given that even prior to conflict Armstrong had begun a prescient series of works based around ruins (exhibited at the Lefevre Gallery in 1938), for which his experience as a theatre and film set designer ably equipped him. Perhaps this can be attributed to artistic foresight or a sense of foreboding at the political climate unraveling on the continent from a man who had served as an Officer in the Cavalry and the Royal Field Artillery during the First World War. Either way, it marked a natural progression from overtly political works such Pro Patria (1938, Imperial War Museum), whose title had referenced Mussolini's ubiquitous slogan and the rise of Fascist propaganda.Armstrong's enthusiasm to contribute to the war effort was clear and he stated that 'I am ready to go anywhere in the country at the request of the Ministry to paint the results of air raids if they occur'. However, with regards to his initial subject matter, he wrote in September 1940 that 'I am painting ruins for the Home Office but find it a distasteful subject at the moment' (Loc.Cit., p.175). Nonetheless, a group of important works emerged that year including The Elms (Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery), A Farm in Wales (National Museum of Wales, Cardiff) and Coggeshall Church, Essex (Tate Britain). The Debris and Demolition series was not limited to ruined buildings and in September 1940 (Manchester Art Gallery), the artist depicts a group of crashed German aircraft strewn across a beach, their twisted fuselages and broken bodies decomposing as if left by the tide in the shadow of Britain's emblematic White Cliffs. This and later aerial examples such as Jet Plane Graveyard (1942, RAF Museum, Hendon) bear similarity to the work of his friend Paul Nash who also visited the aircraft dump at Cowley, Oxford, to complete the seminal Totes Meer (1941, Tate Britain). Where Armstrong differed from his fellow War Artist's such as Nash, Piper, Moore and Sutherland, was in his ability to bring the theme of renewal and hope to his imagery, evoked through an appreciation of Symbolism and Surrealism. This first emerges in The Tulip (1940, Private Collection), a small yet perfectly formed tempera composition depicting a singular flower rising to full bloom from a cluster of ruins and precisely dated 28 May 1940, the eve of Dunkirk. Can Spring Be Far Behind, a quotation taken from Shelley's Ode to the West Wind, also dates to 1940 and was originally intended to be a propaganda poster had Churchill not deemed it too dramatic in effect for a nation weathering the Blitz. Armstrong was of course very familiar with poster design having been commissioned by Jack Beddington, publicity manager for Shell Max and BP, to produce a group of works for them through the 1930s. Despite Churchill's reservations, the powerful image became one of the artist's most widely used and recognised with a number of subtly differing versions now known to exist, including the present lot. Fittingly, the Imperial War Museum hold an example in gouache and another was used as the front cover of the first volume of Future Books, the iconic contemporary text about progress in life, trade and culture immediately after the War in 1945. A further version, considered an initial study, was created with a differing background horizon to the others of rolling hills and remains the auction record for the artist. Can Spring Be Far Behind offers an incredibly poignant emblem of hope in dark times as 'a single tulip blooms amidst the urban rubble, completely out of proportion to its surroundings, but perfectly judged in terms of the painting it dominates and the meaning it aims to project' (Op.Cit., p.74). The symbol of beauty and regeneration emanating from the present work affirms Armstrong as one of the most positive and visionary of War Artists. The use of tempera allows for vivid colour, which further enhances the sense of inherent optimism and the horizontal fine line brushwork in the sky is distinctive of the period whilst also being reminiscent of his friend and contemporary Edward Wadsworth (see Lot 7). Can Spring Be Far Behind is presented in an original Alfred Stiles Ltd frame, as was favoured by the artist at this time, with archival research dating this to 1943.We are grateful to Jonathan Gibbs for his assistance in cataloguing this lot.
Bonhams
Nov. 08, 2018
JOHN ARMSTRONG, JR. Partly-printed Document Signed, "J. Armstrong," as Secretary of War, appointing John E. Calh...
Est: $300 - $400
JOHN ARMSTRONG, JR. Partly-printed Document Signed, "J. Armstrong," as Secretary of War, appointing John E. Calhoun captain in the 3rd regiment of riflemen. 1/2 page, 4to, with integral address leaf; folds. [Washington], 18 March 1814
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 03, 2018
Original Vintage 1930s British Shell Travel Poster Newlands Co
Est: $600 - $1,000
Artist: Armstrong, John 1893 - 1973. Everywhere you go - Shell (Newlands Corner). Technique: Lithograph 1932. Size: 29.9 x 45.2 in. (76 x 115 cm). Printer: Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, London. Condition Details: (B+) was folded, on linen, small tears and minor creasing and staining at the edges and folds. Estimate: $1000. Reserve / Starting Price: $600.
PosterConnection Inc.
Nov. 01, 2018
ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973), framed oil on canvas, religious scenes, a cherub in flight over figures in an archway. 39 cm x 33 cm.
Est: £100 - £150
ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN ARMSTRONG (1893-1973), framed oil on canvas, religious scenes, a cherub in flight over figures in an archway. 39 cm x 33 cm.
Hannam's Auctioneers
Oct. 11, 2018
§ John Armstrong, ARA (British, 1893-1973) Rain Dance signed lower right "John Armstrong" and dated 1952
Est: £5,000 - £8,000
§ John Armstrong, ARA (British, 1893-1973) Rain Dance signed lower right "John Armstrong" and dated 1952 oil on canvas laid on board h:56 w:74 cm Provenance: Sotheby's, London, Sale, 20th July 1988, Lot 218; Brandler Galleries, 1 Coptfold Road, Brentwood, Essex; Private Collection, UK Literature: A. Lambirth, A. Armstrong and J. Gibbs, John Armstrong: The Paintings, Catalogue Raisonne (London, 2009), no. 448 Other Notes: Born in Hastings, the son of a clergyman, John Armstrong attended St Paul's School in London before pursuing a law degree at St John's College, Oxford. However, he changed his mind and decided to study art instead at St John's Wood Art School in 1913-14. During the First World War, Armstrong served in the Royal Field Artillery in Salonika. After the war he embarked on a career as a theatre designer in London and went on to become a distinguished painter and muralist. It was particularly thanks to his friendship with the actors Elsa Lanchester and Charles Laughton that he succeeded in attracting numerous private collectors. Even though he is best known for his whimsical surrealist paintings, he was far from a conventional Surrealist. His first solo exhibition was at the Leicester Galleries in 1928, at which he showed paintings of mannequin-like figures reminiscent of the model theatre, as the critic Anthony Bertram remarked. In 1933, Armstrong joined the Unit One group formed by Paul Nash and exhibited a series of highly textured semi-abstract works in tempera - a medium which he preferred to oil. It was in the late 1930s that his work became much steeped in Surrealism and French Neo-Romanticism. At the same time, he was an equally prolific designer, notably producing posters for Shell and the Royal Mail as well as designing costumes for film and theatre productions. During the Second World War, he worked as an official war artist, being commissioned by the War Artists' Advisory Committee to record the consequences of war. In the late 1940s, Armstrong gradually distanced himself from Surrealism and espoused the use of symbols in his work.
Cheffins