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 Note: the initials M.S.M. are on the painting but it remains unclear as to what they refer to |
Patience Arnold was born in Royston near Barnsley but spent her childhood in Lytham St Annes. She trained at the Harris School of Art, Preston and became a member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts. Patience had been a President of the Lytham St Annes Art Society.
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 Artist 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.
One of the artist's sketch books, dating from the mid 40s, is held at Lancashire County Council Archives. It features various drawings of costumes and performers from shows at Blackpool theatres, including The Grand Theatre. Little is known about why these sketches were produced and what they were for. Perhaps she was sketching pictures of the performers to sell back to them, or perhaps they were to be included in a project, maybe just for pleasure. We may never know why she made these drawings
Patience died in Ambleside in 1991, aged 90.
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 Artist 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.
One of the artist's sketch books, dating from the mid 40s, is held at Lancashire County Council Archives. It features various drawings of costumes and performers from shows at Blackpool theatres, including The Grand Theatre. Little is known about why these sketches were produced and what they were for. Perhaps she was sketching pictures of the performers to sell back to them, or perhaps they were to be included in a project, maybe just for pleasure. We may never know why she made these drawings
Patience died in Ambleside in 1991, aged 90.
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 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, article dated 20 August 1943, page 9, regarding Patience Arnold
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/community/memory-lane/rare-gems-from-the-past-tell-story-of-lancashire-life-1-7427722#ixzz46ICsTOAB
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, article dated 20 August 1943, page 9, regarding Patience Arnold
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/community/memory-lane/rare-gems-from-the-past-tell-story-of-lancashire-life-1-7427722#ixzz46ICsTOAB
