Bidspirit auction | Mathew Brittan

Mathew Brittan - Thinking of Giotto. 33x24 Newly framed. This work is part of a series of late works by Matthew Britten, in which he maintains a personal dialogue with the greatest spiritual artists of history. Similar to other works in the series called Thinking of Giotto and Thinking of Fra Angelico, here too Britten does not seek to quote the great artists of the Renaissance, but rather to continue the questions that occupied them – questions of soul, awe, contemplation and meaning. Matthew sees art as a purely spiritual part that is uncompromising. And here I found a connection to this special artist. At the heart of the work appear two delicate figures floating in a rich, vibrant green space. It seems that they meet in a primordial and ancient moment, a moment of mutual recognition, as if they are revealing themselves to each other from nature itself. The endless green that surrounds them creates a feeling of a primordial garden, a place where the boundary between man and the world around him has almost disappeared. The figures are not depicted realistically, but rather as symbols of consciousness, memory, or soul. The quiet gaze between them creates a rare sense of intimacy, and the viewer becomes a witness to a delicate moment of human and spiritual connection. Like Giotto, who was one of the first to give his figures inner life and real emotion, Britten also deals here with the human encounter as an event of deep spiritual significance. There is no external drama, no defined story – just the silence of contemplation and the wonder of the encounter. The work was executed in professional watercolors on particularly high-quality art paper purchased in France, using rich pigments and layering techniques that give the work extraordinary depth, transparency, and inner radiance. Source: From the artist’s collection, directly from the artist’s studio. About the artist Matthew Britten (b. 1948) is a South African artist whose creative career spans over six decades. A lifelong professional artist, Britten dedicated his work to an ongoing exploration of mythology, spirituality, literature and art history through painting and drawing. His works have been exhibited and collected in South Africa and beyond, and are characterized by rich symbolism, powerful imagery and a personal and unique visual language. Whether in oils or watercolours, his work reflects a long-standing commitment to creativity, thought and artistic exploration. The works offered in this sale come directly from the artist’s studio and provide collectors with a rare opportunity to acquire original works that have remained in his personal possession throughout his years of artistic activity. Even today, in his late eighties, Britten continues to create and develop his artistic language, as part of an extraordinary creative journey that has continued continuously for over sixty years.