Camiers Church

Location

Country: France
City: Paris
Place: British Embassy

With its blue-grey slate roof, thin spire and pale brickwork this view of the church at Camiers in northern France is painted from the front, with the church peeking from behind a high white wall. Some tiny figures are captured scurrying along in front of the wall. The composition emphasises the geometric pattern and texture of the grey brickwork in the foreground, with the green of the hill in the background and the orange of the building to the side adding flashes of colour. Camiers is situated in the Pas-de-Calais region in the north of France. 

Alistair Grant was a printmaker, painter and illustrator. He was born in Kensington, London. His mother was from Etaples in Northern France: Grant retained the family home here and the region inspired his work throughout his life. From 1941-43 he studied at Birmingham College of Art, before being conscripted into the Royal Air Force. He subsequently studied at the Royal College of Art, where he was appointed Head of Printmaking in 1970 and Professor in 1984. Grant was involved in the production of several UK films, including The Portrait of Dorian Gray and The Battle of Agincourt. After retiring from the Royal College, Grant focused on his work, exhibiting both in England and France and spending his time between London, Etaples and Paris.

Places

France, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Camiers

Subjects

topography, genre, townscape/cityscape, tree, man, child, gate, telegraph pole, electrical pylon, street, pavement, house, church, spire, wall

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Alistair Grant (1925 - 1997)

Title

Camiers Church

Date

1954

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 64.00 cm, width: 76.50 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Zwemmer Gallery, February 1955

Inscription

bl: A. Grant 54

GAC number

3166