In the same place and at the same time.

 

Who's so lucky to find something valuable in the same place two weeks in a row? More accurately, I didn't find one more Vicary's painting, but two. The first of these was Old boatyard at Hurley (1983), an original watercolour by Michael Vicary, signed lower right.

Old boatyard at Hurley (1983), by M. Vicary

On the frame and mount there were some tags that titled and dated the artwork and identified the artist, probably from the exhibition where the painting was acquired. One of them even included the artist's address and phone number. Old boatyard at Hurley is also an early Vicary’s artwork, authenticated and dated by the artist himself in October 2019. Its size is 377 x 260 mm. I purchased it at Portobello Road Market the 25th October 2019. The provenance is the same as for the previous artwork, a house clearance, from a property in Pont Street, London.

This second composition by Vicary has the capacity to transfer the spectator to the boatyard. You can almost smell the humidity and the wood, while we witness the work of an artisan. The use of chiaroscuro is brilliant, and I love the depiction of the different woods shown and the rope. Also the perspective, very effective, with a very marked effect of depth.

That weekend I emailed the artist again, and Vicary himself explained some details about the artwork: “I like the one of the boatyard particularly – it is a strong composition and the handling of light and shade is convincing. (…) The boatyard is only about 300 metres from the spot where the (other) picture was painted, just by Hurley lock. Peter Freebody & Co are still in the business of building and restoring traditional wooden boats. The owner was a friendly chap and allowed me to sketch all over the premises. It was a nice shady retreat on hot summer days. He and his family also bought several of my paintings and commissioned others to give to customers. When his son took over the running of the firm he set about tidying up the yard, so it is more orderly now but to my eyes less photogenic”.

Hurley, an English village rich in history.

 

Just 300 metres from the boatyard is Ye Olde Bell pub. I went in to relax for a while. Then a local approached and explained to me about the history of the village. Ye Olde Bell opened its doors in 1135 as a guest House. The secret passage running from its cellar was used by Lord Lovelace of Hurley, who was a plotter of the ‘Glorious Revolution’ in 1688, which drove the Catholic James II into exile and placed his son-in-law, William of Orange, jointly with his wife, James’s daughter Mary, on the throne. In 1936 the 17th Century Malthouse was the residence of the classic horror actor Boris Karloff whilst he was making “Juggernaut” and “The Man Who Changed His Mind”. His wife Dorothy said of Hurley: “it’s the loveliest, tiniest village you can imagine”.

Ye Olde Bell.

Some notable guests have included Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Cary Grant and Errol Flynn. During World War Two, famous guests at The Olde Bell included Sir Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Colonel Elliot Roosevelt, son of the war-time President, who were all visiting Ladye Place mansion, next to the church, which was being used as a secret U.S intelligence base prior to The Normandy Landings. That story of D-Day planning seemed to follow me, because that is exactly what is explained on a plaque next to my house in Hammersmith. 

D-Day blue plaque in Hammersmith.

 

Other Vicarys waiting to be discovered.

 

In a recent interview Michael Vicary sums up his work: “Oil and watercolour landscapes of the Thames Valley and Chilterns”. He also reveals the reason why he became an artist: “I started painting full-time in 1974, as an escape route from teaching and after a sketching tour of France and Italy”; and describes where he finds inspiration for his paintings: “The fresh and spontaneous joy of painting out of doors and the spot. Plein air artists British and French have been my models”.

 

I had just found my second Vicary. Because I found it in the same stall this time I was sure it was an original artwork, just as the stall holder told me. I decided to take a look at the rest of the items on display. It was then that I found a third Vicary in the same box.