The Bride and the Mourners

PRE - CHRISTMAS SALE - 25% OFF In General A magnificent, huge statement original framed oil painting, 'The Bride and the Mourners' dated 1980 by the leading artist Julia Heseltine (1938 - 2023) and exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1980. This show stopper original oil painting reflects her signature surreal and intensely dreamlike style and her exciting technique for compositional mysterious vignettes where the viewer's imagination can run riot exploring all the likely scenarios that her wonderful paintings reveal. 'The Bride and the Mourners' shows a beautiful bride in profile, in a stunning cream 'méringue style' wedding dress with an ultra sheer veil and fabulous cream platform shoes diving from a church into a waiting 1980s Mini Classic. A handsome man - possibly the groom in formal morning dress, grey tie and black top hat is standing behind the open Mini door. Meanwhile a funeral cortege is taking place, entering the church, behind her. Mourners in black top hats and formal morning dress, with black ties are moving a coffin and wreath into the church. Does this dramatic and mysterious vignette suggest the bride escaping from a noir style thriller!?? What do you think is happening?? Julia Heseltine (1938 - 2023) is an important artist who exhibited at the Royal Academy, London and was a former member of the Royal Academy Schools East Anglia Group. She held numerous exhibitions throughout her career and fulfilled commissions from the famous English actor and Director, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Alan Clark MP, Bamber Gascoigne, the acclaimed English Actress, Dame Joan Plowright and one of the twentieth century's greatest writers, Ted Hughes - who was married to the famous American poet and author Sylvia Plath, and many others. Julia Katrina Heseltine was born at St Pancras, London in 1933, daughter of Guy Robert Nelson Heseltine (1897-1967) and his wife, Anna Katrina née Zinkeisen (1901–1976), who married at Marylebone, London on 25 July 1928. Heseltine came from a family strongly associated with painting - her mother Anna and Aunt Doris Clare Zinkeisen, both well-known artists in the mid-twentieth century. Julia started painting at an early age, with her first commission at the age of just 16, being a portrait of Jonathon Porritt (aged four), who went on to become a leading figure in Friends of the Earth. She studied at the Chelsea School of Art, the Byam Shaw School of Art and at the Royal Academy Schools. Over time,  she also developed a significant connection to Suffolk and its people, exploring the county’s life with great humour. We love the brides stunning wedding dress and platform shoes, the striking red and cream awning and the lovely 1980s Mini Classic and the mystery surrounding this fantastic statement work of art! Year 1980 Signed and Dated The painting is signed on the front left hand corner, by the artist 'Heseltine' in paint. A Royal Academy Exhibition 1980 label is attached confirming that the painting is by 'Heseltine Julia Katrina' at address 'Looms Cottage - Burgh Nr Woodbridge Suffolk' . The title of the work is confirmed as 'The Bride And The Mourners' and that it is an 'Oil Painting'. Material Original oil painting on board with a bespoke original wooden frame. Condition The painting and original bespoke frame are in good condition.  The frame has a rustic look with some paint loss - which is all part of the design of the frame. There are some dinks on the frame due to age and use but otherwise it is good condition. The painting has been professionally re-framed in its original frame - to include a new backing board fixed to the back of the painting. The bespoke wooden frame has been strengthened on each corner. The four corners of the frame show a small amount of gapping. Please see photographs Dimensions ( L x W x H ) Frame Dimensions: 122 cm x 3 cm x 122 cm Painting Dimensions : TBC Weight To be confirmed. Shipping We use trusted couriers in the UK and across the World.  We tend to use Royal Mail Special Delivery and Parcelforce 48 in the UK and Transglobal, DHL, Fedex and Royal Mail Worldwide.  Purchases are very carefully wrapped and packed using high quality packing materials and extra strong boxes.  All parcels are comprehensively insured and sent at the risk of Chapman Pugh Ltd. Please be aware that there maybe customs and/or tax payments due on the parcels arrival in the buyers country. This varies from country to country. Any additional customs and/or tax payments are the responsibility of the buyer. FREE SHIPPING IN UK ALL SHIPPING COSTS ARE REFUNDED IF LESS THAN STATED BELOW: Shipping Costs: United Kingdom FREE Europe £154 United States and Canada £330 Rest of the World £350 Please message us for a precise shipping quote for Europe and the Rest of the World. It may be possible to obtain lower prices than those stated depending on the shipping address.