Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"Avebury (1937)" by Paul Nash is a contemplative landscape that captures the ancient and mystical atmosphere of Avebury, one of Britain's most significant and enigmatic prehistoric sites. The painting depicts the standing stones of Avebury, arranged in a semi-circular pattern on a flat expanse of grassland. These megalithic structures appear monumental and timeless, suggesting both their rootedness in history and their mysterious, almost sentient presence.

Nash’s use of color is muted and somewhat sombre, with shades of grey, beige, and green dominating the composition. This subdued palette contributes to the moody and contemplative quality of the scene. The stones cast long shadows, creating a sense of depth and emphasizing the passage of time. The sky is vast and somewhat oppressive, filled with stratified clouds that enhance the weighty, timeless atmosphere of the scene.

The overall composition is carefully balanced, with the stones arranged in a rhythmic pattern that guides the viewer's eye across the canvas. Nash's sensitive rendering of the textures and surfaces of the stones lends them an almost tactile quality, inviting the viewer to ponder their ancient origins and the stories they might conceal.

- Artist: Paul Nash (1889-1946)
- Title: "Avebury"
- Year: 1937
- Medium: Oil on canvas

The original painting "Avebury (1937)" is held in the Tate Britain museum in London, part of the Tate Collection. Nash's work often explored themes of landscape imbued with personal and cultural significance, and "Avebury" is a prime example of this focus.

Paul Nash was a prominent British painter known for his landscapes that often depicted a synergy between natural forms and human history, particularly ancient sites. Nash's artistic career was significantly shaped by his experiences during World War I, where he served as an official war artist. The trauma and devastation of the war deeply influenced his work and instilled in him a profound appreciation for the resilience and mystery of the natural world.

"Avebury (1937)" fits into Nash’s career during a period where he was particularly focused on the British landscape and its ancient sites. This painting is part of his broader exploration of places like Stonehenge and Avebury, which he saw as epicentres of historical and spiritual significance. Nash was fascinated by the concept of "genius loci" or the spirit of a place, and his work often seeks to capture the essence and atmosphere of the landscapes he depicted.

- Symbolism: The standing stones of Avebury serve as symbols of endurance, history, and the enigmatic connections between past and present. Nash’s portrayal of these stones can also be seen as reflecting his own internal contemplation of natural and human cycles.
- Artistic Movements: Nash is associated with movements such as British Modernism and Surrealism. His work often blends elements of realistic landscape painting with surreal, dreamlike qualities that impart a sense of mystery and otherworldliness.
- Technique: Nash’s technique in this painting is characterized by precise, almost meticulous brushwork that captures the texture and solidity of the stones against the more fluid and transient qualities of the sky and landscape.

In conclusion, Paul Nash’s "Avebury (1937)" is a masterful representation of historical and natural themes, executed with a deep emotional resonance and a profound sense of place. The painting remains an important work in Nash's oeuvre and a key piece in the collection of Tate Britain.