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JON CATLEUGH - Late Paintings

17th June - 25th July 2009

Auction: 24th July 2009, 7.30 pm (doors open at 6.30 pm)

Jon Denis Harwood Catleugh was born in 1920 in King's Lynn, Norfolk. His was a multifaceted life - soldier, architect, designer, painter, collector and ceramic historian. He is best known for his knowledge and appreciation of all things relating to the Victorian ceramic artist William De Morgan.

He bought his first William De Morgan tile in 1949 and this was to be the beginning of a life long obsession, leading him to become the foremost expert on De Morgan and his tiles. He was invited by the Trustees of the De Morgan Foundation in 1971 to look after the Foundation's ceramic interests, a role which he took very seriously. He became Chairman of the Charity in 1995 and under his stewardship the Foundation set up the critically acclaimed museum the De Morgan Centre which opened to the public in 2002. During this year he retired as Chairman and became Honorary Life President of the Foundation. He remained active as a board member and advisor until his death.

In 1939 Jon entered the Bartlett school of architecture, London. His studies were interrupted by the war, and he enlisted in the Army. He was coissioned in the Royal Artillery in 1941 and transferred to the King's Own Scottish Borderers as a substantive lieutenant in 1944. He took part in the D-Day landings, by then a captain. On June 11, in the assault on Caen, he was seriously wounded and invalided home. After a long convalescence he was able to continue his studies and qualified as an architect in 1949. His first post was with the LCC Schools Department, and his Sir John Lillie Primary School in Fulham still stands. His interest then turned to interiors, and, with a keen knowledge of the history of furniture, he became adviser to the War Office and designed furniture for married quarters and the like. In the late 1950s he had a spell in the coercial world, as a director of the Conran Design Group but soon returned to the Civil Service. His final appointment was as head of interior design for the Department of the Environment, with responsibility for all the diplomatic estate as well as prestige government properties in Britain. He retired in 1979.

In the 1950s Catleugh was very active in the arts and was described as part of the 1950's 'Tachiste Tornado' by Herbert Reed. An exhibition of Jackson Pollock's work in Venice (1949), proved to be a pivotal moment and he became fascinated by the endless possibilities of the 'drip and pour' technique. Working straight from tins of paint, his complex works were controlled and rhythmic. By 1953, Catleugh became associated with the constructivist revival in Britain, working on a series of paper collages which were described by Oswell Blakeston in Art News and Review, as having the effect of 'looking through slats at a confetti world'. He was represented by the avant-garde Gimpel Fils Gallery and had two solo exhibitions there in 1953 and 1954. In 1956 he took part in the seminal This is Tomorrow exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, a multidisciplinary collaboration of architects, artists, musicians and graphic designers.

He also worked in other creative fields; designing furniture for the Furniture Makers Guild and creating the sets for Picasso's play Desire Caught by the Tail at the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny (1951). As a designer he took part in a number of influential exhibitions including the Institute of Contemporary Art's Tomorrow's Furniture (1952) and Paintings into Textiles (1953). The designer / manufacturer David Whitehead purchased three of Catleugh's paintings and collages from the 1953 show and asked him to design fabrics for his company. Sekers Fabrics also adapted one of his paintings into a fashion silk.

In 1988 Catleugh took part in a very successful retrospective Reflections of the Fifties at England and Co. The show was successful not only in reinvigorating an interest in his earlier work, but in inspiring Catleugh to once again pick up his brushes. The body of paintings shown in this current exhibition were the results of his renewed passion for painting in the early 1990s. The proceeds of the auction will be donated by his widow Kate, to the De Morgan Foundation's rehoming project.

Auction: 24th July 2009, 7.30 pm (doors open at 6.30 pm)

The following lots have kindly been donated by Kate Catleugh to raise funds for the De Morgan Foundation's rehoming project.

The auction will commence at 7.30 pm on July 24th 2009, there will be 38 lots as listed below. The presiding auctioneer will be Mark Oliver from Bonhams.

Commission Bids

If you cannot personally attend the auction, you can leave your bid with us, which the auctioneer will operate on your behalf, using the enclosed form. Bid slips can be faxed / posted to us at the address below, to arrive at least 24 hours before the auction.

Jon Catleugh "Late Paintings" Auction
The De Morgan Centre
38 West Hill
London
SW18 1RZ T

T. 020 8871 1144
F. 020 8875 9357

Payment

Payment is due immediately after purchase and can be made in pounds sterling, by cheque or debit / credit card. Goods will only be released once cleared funds have been received, which may mean waiting for a cheque to clear.

Collection

Bought art work can be taken away on the evening of the auction, or in the case of Commission bids, must be collected by the 31st July 2009. Delivery can be arranged on your behalf if necessary.

To download a pdf version of the auction lots listed below and a commission bidding slip please click here

26.06.2009 © De Morgan Centre