Lot 800: Derek Clarke RSA, British b.1912- Portrait of

Derek Clarke RSA, British b.1912- Portrait of Elizabeth Joseph (1909-1978) seated in a garden with a book; oil on canvas, signed and dated 1947, 60.8x50.8cm, (unframed) Provenance: Derek Clarke served with the brother of the sitter Stephen Joseph in the DLI in Wand, whom was the uncle of the previous owner. The lot is now being sold on behalf of Oxfam Note: Born on 31st December 1912 at Longthorpe, Peterborough, Derek Clarke studied at the Slade School of Art. He lived in Western Ireland both before and after World War II where, inspired by the landscape and people of Connemara, he produced a significant amount of work. Derek Clarke taught at Edinburgh College of Art between 1947 and 1978, supplementing his income by painting portraits. He can count Elizabeth Blackadder and John Bellany among his students. In 1989 he was made an Associate of the RSA and in 2005 attained full Academician status. Working in the figurative tradition, frequent subjects include landscape and portraiture.