Oil on canvas, 14"28", signed, inscribed verso. From a private collection in the USA.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, D’OYLY-JOHN took a commission in the Provost Corps and during the 1945 campaign was hospitalised. It was during the period of convalescence that he took up painting as a pastime but he soon proved himself to be a natural artist of uncommon genius.

D’OYLY-JOHN was one of the most successful and brilliant (in both senses of the word) artists of his time. What is his genius and colour sense? It defies explanation, other than that it reflected his personality. He used his genius and colour sense with equanimity in everything he painted. Subjects are made up of several different colours, although to us it may seem to be of one shade or tone, and in this you will realise the brilliance of D’OYLY-JOHN’s technique.

In the 1950s and 1960s, his works were sold in print form by one of the major publishers (Frost and Reed) of that time, and thus his work became universally known and popular.

A number of his paintings were acquired by the Queen Mother (when she was Queen) for the Royal collection and his work is to be seen in other notable collections throughout the world.

D’OYLY-JOHN lived in Rottingdean, near Brighton, and travelled extensively throughout the world in search of new subjects to glorify his canvases.

Bruges

CECIL ROCHFORT D’OYLY-JOHN 1906-1993

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