Woman Sketching
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Research by Marjorie Gregson
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Acc No 248
Artist Patience Arnold (attributed) Artist dates 1901-1992 Medium watercolour Size unknown Date painted unknown Donor Eric Brian Porter Date donated 23 July 1945 Also in Collection The Farmyard 1944, watercolour acc no 275 39 x 49 cm (15.6 x 19.3 in) gift from Veronica McDonnell, Lytham St Annes, May 2017 |
Patience Arnold was born in Royston near Barnsley but lived in the borough of Lytham St Annes for 65 years. She won a scholarship to train at the Harris School of Art, Preston for three years and became a member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts. Although Patience was very interested in textile design her real love was painting and illustrating and her first big breakthrough came with a job illustrating the children's page for the national newspaper, the Daily Dispatch (no longer in publication).
Patience was a member of the Lytham St Annes Art Society, serving as President on two occasions, 1938/39 and 1953/55.
An article in the Lytham St Annes Express, August 1943, tells of an Exhibition of Art, in aid of the Red Cross, held by Miss Phyllis Hibbert and Patience Arnold. ….”artwork was of a high order and topicality - a pre-war holiday crowd and wartime queue of women shoppers both showed excellent facial expression”.
The Council Minutes of the meeting of the Education Committee held on 17 October 1940 recorded that they had received a letter from Miss P Arnold offering to present one of her paintings of nursery rhymes to the Committee for permanent exhibition in any of the infant schools. The offer was accepted and a letter of thanks sent.
In 1967 Patience moved and set up a studio in the Lake District where she was elected a member of the Lake Artists Society. The magic of childhood never left Patience Arnold. It is reflected in the themes of many of her paintings, nursery rhymes and children's tales, which brought her national recognition illustrating books and greeting cards. She was a collector of dolls, dolls houses and toys, and in 1980 she opened up her hillside cottage, near the junction of Kirkstone Road and North Road, Ambleside, to the public. Her friends, Miss Kirk and Miss Moffat, helped run the museum whilst Patience got on with her watercolours. Her collection included fourteen dolls houses, dating back to Victorian times, toy forts, model farms and lots of dolls.
Patience had always been interested in the theatre and in particular costumes. She is known to have visited London theatres where she would sketch the costumes and then go home and paint them. Twelve of the artist's sketch books, dating from the mid 40s, kindly donated by Kathleen Eyre, a local historian, are held at Lancashire County Council Archives. They feature various drawings of costumes and performers from shows at Blackpool theatres, including The Grand Theatre, designed by Frank Matcham.
Patience died in Ambleside in 1991, aged 90.
Note: The initials M.S.N. are on the painting but it remains unclear to what they refer. Ongoing research has uncovered 2 further pictures bearing the same initials.
Patience was a member of the Lytham St Annes Art Society, serving as President on two occasions, 1938/39 and 1953/55.
An article in the Lytham St Annes Express, August 1943, tells of an Exhibition of Art, in aid of the Red Cross, held by Miss Phyllis Hibbert and Patience Arnold. ….”artwork was of a high order and topicality - a pre-war holiday crowd and wartime queue of women shoppers both showed excellent facial expression”.
The Council Minutes of the meeting of the Education Committee held on 17 October 1940 recorded that they had received a letter from Miss P Arnold offering to present one of her paintings of nursery rhymes to the Committee for permanent exhibition in any of the infant schools. The offer was accepted and a letter of thanks sent.
In 1967 Patience moved and set up a studio in the Lake District where she was elected a member of the Lake Artists Society. The magic of childhood never left Patience Arnold. It is reflected in the themes of many of her paintings, nursery rhymes and children's tales, which brought her national recognition illustrating books and greeting cards. She was a collector of dolls, dolls houses and toys, and in 1980 she opened up her hillside cottage, near the junction of Kirkstone Road and North Road, Ambleside, to the public. Her friends, Miss Kirk and Miss Moffat, helped run the museum whilst Patience got on with her watercolours. Her collection included fourteen dolls houses, dating back to Victorian times, toy forts, model farms and lots of dolls.
Patience had always been interested in the theatre and in particular costumes. She is known to have visited London theatres where she would sketch the costumes and then go home and paint them. Twelve of the artist's sketch books, dating from the mid 40s, kindly donated by Kathleen Eyre, a local historian, are held at Lancashire County Council Archives. They feature various drawings of costumes and performers from shows at Blackpool theatres, including The Grand Theatre, designed by Frank Matcham.
Patience died in Ambleside in 1991, aged 90.
Note: The initials M.S.N. are on the painting but it remains unclear to what they refer. Ongoing research has uncovered 2 further pictures bearing the same initials.
Patience Arnold aged 83
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Patience Arnold in her Ambleside studio 1984
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Historian Stanley Brown found some watercolours and drawings by Patience amongst the effects of his late wife, Enid. The two women had been friends in their youth; both had been pupils at the Saxonholme School, one of the many private educational establishments which once flourished in Lytham St St Annes.
Watercolour, belonging to Enid and Stanley
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Watercolour, belonging to Enid and Stanley
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Watercolour, belonging to Enid and Stanley
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Other examples of Patience Arnold's work
Patience Arnold Watercolour, fairytale illustration, signed, 13" x 17", framed,
sold Jan 2011 by Burstow & Hewett
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Patience Arnold Watercolour, sold April 2007 by Bonhams
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Patience Arnold, Pencil and Watercolour, Princess Rosetta and her brothers, 1931,
8.5 X 6.5 in (21.6 X 16.5 cm), sold Sept 2014 by Christies, South Kensington
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Patience Arnold Watercolour, Tea On The Lawn,
sold July 2010 Gerrards Auction Rooms, Lytham St Annes
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REFERENCES
Arnold P, (2015), Invaluable, images available online @ http://www.invaluable.co.uk/artist/arnold-patience-rq46k378ue
Arnold P, (2015), Facebook page, Cozy Arts and Crafts Wonderland, available @ https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.659573390742867.1073742330.522707251096149&type=3
LSA Express, 20 August 1943, page 9
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/community/memory-lane/rare-gems-from-the-past-tell-story-of-lancashire-life-1-7427722#ixzz46ICsTOAB
LSA Express, 9 February 1967 - 'Woman's Page'
Renouf, Jane, The Lake Artists Society, A Centenary Celebration, published 2004
Arnold P, (2015), Invaluable, images available online @ http://www.invaluable.co.uk/artist/arnold-patience-rq46k378ue
Arnold P, (2015), Facebook page, Cozy Arts and Crafts Wonderland, available @ https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.659573390742867.1073742330.522707251096149&type=3
LSA Express, 20 August 1943, page 9
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/community/memory-lane/rare-gems-from-the-past-tell-story-of-lancashire-life-1-7427722#ixzz46ICsTOAB
LSA Express, 9 February 1967 - 'Woman's Page'
Renouf, Jane, The Lake Artists Society, A Centenary Celebration, published 2004
