Lot 79: John Cecil Stephenson (1889-1965) ABSTRACTION, 1933 signed twice, titled and inscribed with

artist's address verso, also titled on artist's label on stretcher, oil on canvas laid over panel 20 x 28 cm. (7 x 11 in.) PROVENANCE: The artist and thence by descent Literature: S.Guthrie, The Life & Art of John Cecil Stephenson, Grange-Over-Sands, 1997, pl.4 (ill.in col.) This work appears to be the earliest surviving example of Stephenson moving towards a flat-plane manner of abstraction, and although on a small scale, its use of overlapping flat areas of colour does suggest a familiarity with the work of his Mall Studios neighbour, Ben Nicholson, particularly in the white mug-handle shape in the centre of the composition. However, the element of abstraction is rather more severe than was current in Nicholson's own still-life work of the period (cf.1933-5 (still-life) (Private Collection)) and attests to an artist who is experimenting with the possibilities of the manner.