Paul Nash
Artists and the Landscape: Paul Nash
Wittenham Clumps were a constant source of inspiration for Paul Nash (1889-1946), one of the most prominent 20th Century British landscape artists.
The best-known artist associated with the Clumps is Paul Nash (1889-1946). Nash visited the Clumps when his family joined his cousins, the Wells family, at their home 'Sinodun House' near Wallingford for September shooting parties. Paul did not agree with shooting and would leave the party to walk and paint.
Nash's early paintings were conceived during his visits to Sinodun House in September 1911 and 1912 (in his early twenties), and emphasise the power of the ancient landscape. Although aware of the history of the Clumps he claimed it was their visual impact that immediately attracted him.
Paul Nash's Inspiration From The Clumps
'Wittenham Clumps was a landmark famous for miles around. An ancient British camp, it stood up with extraordinary prominence above the river at Shillingford. There were two hills, both dome-like and each planted with a thick clump of trees whose mass had a curiously symmetrical sculptured form. At the foot of these hills grew the dense wood of Wittenham, part of the early forest where the polecat still yelled in the night hours.'
'Ever since I remember them the Clumps had meant something to me. I felt their importance long before I knew their history. They eclipsed the impression of all the early landscapes I knew. This, I am certain was due almost entirely to their formal features rather than to any associative force. For although in my mind they stood apart from other symbolism...it was the look of them that told most, whether in sight or in memory. They were the Pyramids of my small world'.
(extract from 'Outline' by Paul Nash, quoted in 'Paul Nash Places')
Nash is known, not only as a landscape artist and surrealist, but also as a war artist, painting stark images from both the first and second world wars. His lifelong fascination shown in his paintings with the gentle landscape of the Wittenham Clumps contrasts strongly with the images from the battlefield .
Paul Nash's Painting On Display
Nash's paintings of Wittenham Clumps can be seen in the Tate Gallery, the Liverpool Walker Gallery and in Buckingham Palace.
