Antique Original Oil on Board Painting Depicting a Male Sitter, Mid 20th Century

A captivating portrait depicting a man in a brown woollen jumper in an interior in front of a 19th-century panelled door and next to a pot plant.

Painted in a sensitive and thoughtful manner with plenty of feeling and emotion, using bluish tones and a slightly subdued colour palette to great effect, perhaps depicting the evening light.

The work is unsigned, but there is an exhibition label verso for the United Society of Artists, with the artist’s name ‘Ian Hunter’, and address, ‘25 Montpelier Terrace, Cheltenham’. The work is also titled ‘Looking Through the Eye’ and priced at ‘40 Guineas’.

There is also a further framing label for ‘James Boulet & Sons Ltd. Nassau St., London.’

Ian Hunter (1939-2017) was a figurative artist who mainly painted in oils. During his career he exhibited at the Barbican Centre, Hayward Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts, London and had a major solo exhibition in 1983 at the Newlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall. He was also a well-respected art teacher at many prestigious art schools and institutions, rising to become Dean of Art at Central Saint Martin’s in the 1980s. Prior to that, he was head of fine art at Cheltenham School of Art in the 1970s, which would tie in with the address on the exhibition label verso. The address on the framing label is prior to 1974, so I would imagine the portrait dates from the early 1970s or possibly the late 1960s period.

Framed is a simple white painted wooden artist’s frame.

The painting is in good vintage condition with no serious issues and some minor wear commensurate with age.

Approximate overall measurements: 76cm x 56cm x 4cm. The visible area of the painting within the frame measures roughly 72cm x 51cm.

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