Bidspirit auction | Mathew Brittan

Mathew Brittan - Thinking of Fra Angelico. 33 × 25 cm Watercolor on fine art paper, framed under glass There are works of art that do not seek to tell a story, but instead invite the viewer into a state of contemplation. Such is this poetic watercolor by Mathew Brittan, in which a quiet and introspective female figure emerges from a deep violet space that feels almost dreamlike, appearing to drift between the material world and the realm of the spirit. The title, ”Thinking of Fra Angelico, ” is no coincidence. Here, Brittan offers a subtle homage to one of the great masters of the Early Renaissance, Fra Angelico, whose paintings are celebrated for their ability to unite human beauty with spiritual transcendence. Like the fifteenth-century Italian painter, Brittan seeks that silent moment in which the soul rises above the noise surrounding it—a moment of grace, reflection, and inner clarity. Executed in exceptionally fine watercolors using professional materials that the artist has employed for many years, the work demonstrates Brittan's mastery of the medium. Delicate layers of transparent pigment and his distinctive technique create a remarkable sense of depth, softness, and an almost luminous quality that characterizes many of his paintings. The figure seems to emerge from within the paper itself, bathed in an ethereal light that encourages quiet reflection rather than dramatic response. Provenance: From the artist's collection, acquired directly from the artist's studio. About the Artist Mathew Brittan (b. 1948) has devoted his life to art for more than six decades. He began painting as a young child in South Africa, inspired by his grandfather, Max Brittan, an enthusiastic painter whose passion for art left a lasting impression on him. Throughout his long career, Brittan has exhibited in leading South African galleries, including the renowned Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, earning recognition for his highly personal visual language and his sustained engagement with themes of spirituality, mysticism, and human development. The artist's family also shares a connection with the Land of Israel. His mother was born in Haifa in 1923, and the family lived in Mandatory Palestine before returning to South Africa during the 1930s. During several meetings we held with the artist in Johannesburg and the Cape Town region, we were deeply impressed by his gentle character and profound dedication to his artistic calling. For many years, much of his work remained tied to gallery agreements and private collections, and only a small number of pieces have recently arrived in Israel. Brittan is regarded as an artist of deep spiritual conviction, and this influence can be felt throughout nearly every body of work he has created. His paintings do not seek to captivate through drama or protest, but through stillness, contemplation, and the richness of an inner world. The works offered in this sale form part of a small group of watercolors on paper that were recently brought to Israel. They represent the mature vision of an artist with a distinctive voice and a wealth of life experience, who has continued to create throughout his life out of a profound commitment to art and to the ongoing search for spiritual meaning.