JOHN BELLANY FEATURE
John Bellany CBE HRSA RA LLD (1942–2013) is widely regarded as one of the most important Scottish artists of the twentieth century. Best known for his powerful depictions of the Protestant fishing communities of Scotland’s east coast, Bellany’s paintings are deeply autobiographical and personal in their depictions of the wider social and religious context in which he grew up. Developing a visual language all of his own, Bellany’s style was drawn as much from the German Expressionists as from any Scottish painterly lineage. Both literal and symbolic, in all of his work is a conversation about the human condition, and more specifically the challenges and complexities that tradition and religion bring to bear on it.
The paintings within this collection have been acquired from a variety of sources: individual collectors, auction houses and dealers. Provenance details can be provided.