Provenance:

1) The artist

2) Gift from the above to the dedicee, 1962

3) 22/8/2018 Christies, New York - Lot 00083

4) London Art Dealer

Note: This work is very similar to many others that the artist made at this period in his life as studies for sculpture projects.

Lynn Chadwick CBE RA (1914–2003)

British Modernist Sculptor and Draftsman

Lynn Chadwick was one of the most important British sculptors of the 20th century, best known for his angular, semi-abstract bronzes that explored themes of balance, movement, and human presence. Born in London in 1914, Chadwick trained as an architectural draughtsman before serving as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II. The tension and equilibrium demanded by flying would later echo in the poised structures of his sculpture.

Chadwick’s post-war career began with mobiles and abstract constructions, leading to his first solo show at Gimpel Fils in 1950. He gained international prominence at the 1952 Venice Biennale as part of the “Geometry of Fear” group—a term coined by critic Herbert Read to describe a generation of British sculptors whose work reflected the anxieties of the atomic age. In 1956, Chadwick was awarded the International Prize for Sculpture at the Venice Biennale, ahead of Alberto Giacometti, cementing his status on the global stage.

Chadwick’s sculpture evolved from light, open structures to monumental bronze figures, often male and female forms defined by sharp angles, cloaked torsos, and geometric abstraction. These pairs—such as Cloaked Couple, Walking Woman, and Conjunction—evoke both timeless archetypes and modern psychological distance. His works are held in major collections including Tate, the Museum of Modern Art (New York), and Centre Pompidou.

In addition to sculpture, Chadwick produced an extensive body of works on paper, particularly lithographs and drawings that paralleled and enriched his sculptural practice. These pieces often explored similar themes—figures in tension, poised movement, architectural space—and are notable for their graphic precision and expressive economy. His drawings served both as preparatory studies and as independent artworks, revealing the clarity of his structural thinking and his commitment to form.

Chadwick was appointed CBE in 1964 and became a Royal Academician in 2001. He lived and worked at Lypiatt Park in Gloucestershire, where he maintained his studio and sculpture park until his death in 2003.