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4 Albert Irvin RA (1922-2015)Goat Reaching for Leaves
Oil on board, 120.5 x 50cm (47½ x 19¾”)
Signed and dated ‘54
Inscribed artist’s label verso
€3,000 - €5,000
Called up as a gunner with the RAF in 1941, Irvin saw active service on bombing missions
over Germany. On being released from the air force, he studied at Goldsmiths College of Art,
where he later taught for many years. Best known for his large colourful and dynamic abstract
work, Irvin’s early painting again shows a strong influence of the figurative romantics such as
John Minton and John Craxton.
Irvin began to paint in Cornwall during the 1950’s when we mixed with Lanyon, Terry Frost
and Patrick Heron. Nancy met Albert Irvin around the time these paintings were painted
through her boyfriend of the time, the painter Derek Middleton. Albert Irvin died at the age
of 92 in March 2015.
Fig. 6. Albert Irvin, Zennor 1958
Fig. 7. Albert Irvin in his studio, St. Katherine’s
Dock, taken by Betty Irvin