Goldmark 31, 2024

Contrasts of ancient and modern have emerged as the defining theme of our Winter 2023 issue. The work of veteran storyteller Olive Wootton (who turns 92 next year) – mythological bronze figures and skilfully observed animals – could not differ more from that of Patrick Heron, one of our greatest abstract artists who looked to rid his art of all symbols, signs, and illustrative elements. Yet both sit happily side by side here with Henry Moore, exploring (as Heron did) the riches lithography had to offer: Dominic Kemp finds his drawing taking on a life independent from his sculpture in this new medium. With great dexterity, Robert Garland also bridges the gap between ancient and abstract, tracing back Kandinsky’s enigmatic imagery to mankind’s earliest marks. Han dynasty jade informs the thousand-year history of ash glazed ceramics in our colour column. And Brangwyn authority Libby Horner tells us how she catalogued every one of the prolific artist’s works in print: a mammoth task made easier by Brangwyn’s infectious graphic bravado.

CONTRIBUTORS

Dr Robert Garland is a classicist, ancient historian and author, and is currently the Roy D. and Margaret B. Wooster Professor of the Classics at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. A former Fulbright Scholar and recipient of the George Grote Ancient History Prize, he has written a number of books – both academic and popular – on ancient Greek and Roman history, with a special interest in Greek religion, society, politics and urban living.

Dominic Kemp is an art dealer, author, auctioneer and ex-actor whose credits include a year in the lead role of the Mousetrap and multiple appearances in primetime UK television series. He launched Dominic Kemp Modern British Prints in 2007, and in 2010 his catalogue raisonné of the prints of Terry Frost was published by Lund Humphries. A friend of Stanley Jones, in this latest issue he brings his authoritative knowledge of lithography to bear on the prints of Henry Moore.

Dr Libby Horner is an independent art historian, writer, curator, film producer, and the world’s leading authority on Frank Brangwyn. A prolific publisher and lecturer, she has written numerous books about the artist including Frank Brangwyn: Stained Glass (2010), Brangwyn at WAR! (2014, published by Goldmark), Brangwyn’s ‘Pots’, a catalogue of ceramics and glassware (2018) and Christ’s Hospital Murals (2019). She has just completed a monumental four-volume catalogue of Brangwyn’s printed work, now available at Goldmark.

David Suff acclaimed gallery artist, specialises in works on paper and is well-known for his remarkably fine, rich drawings in coloured pencil and pen. He has also, in recent years, been guardian of Topic Records, the oldest independent record company in the world, before his semi-retirement from the role in 2017. For the past year Suff has been engaged in a project to complete a drawing a day – no mean feat, given the extraordinary detail and handiwork in his draughtsmanship.