A view of Place House from across Place Farm yard, Great Bardfield
signed 'John Aldridge' (lower left); titled and dated 'Feb 1956' to the reverse
oil on board
40 x 55cm

The present lot depicts The Place, Great Bardfield, the residence Aldridge shared with his first wife, and textile artist, Lucie Brown (née Saunders). After acquiring the property in 1933, The Place quickly became a hub for a group of painters and printmakers who would later be known as 'The Great Bardfield Artists'. This community, which included artists such as Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious, fostered a creative environment that would profoundly influence Aldridge's work. With a generous garden enveloped by the rolling hills and tranquil rivers of the Essex countryside, the property and surrounding environs provided Aldridge with limitless inspiration. Far from being simply a dwelling, The Place was an important wellspring for artistic freedom.

We are grateful to Peter Donovan and Gordon Cummings for their assistance in cataloguing this work.

Condition Report
The surface with a very light layer of dirt and with a few negligible scattered accretions, otherwise in nice condition