Roland Wakelin (1887-1971) Original Oil on Board 'Still Life' 40cm x 50cm

Roland Shakespeare Wakelin (1887-1971) was a modernist painter who played a key role in the development of modern art in Australia during the early 20th century. He is best known for his bright bold colours and this artwork is no exception. An original oil painting of a still life, on canvas on board, (Circa. 1950). The artwork is in its original rustic coppertone wooden frame and signed lower left 'R.Wakelin'. Collect a piece of art history. Provenance: Shapiro Auctioneers, Private Collector NSW. 

Dimensions

Image size: 40cm x 50cm
Frame size: 47cm x 57cm x 2cm

Bio

Roland Wakelin (1887–1971) was a pioneering New Zealand-born Australian painter and a central figure in the early development of modernism in Australian art. Born in Greytown, New Zealand, Wakelin was the youngest of seven children in a family with English and Auckland heritage. He began sketching and painting as a boy and later studied at Wellington Technical School from 1902 to 1903. While working in the Land and Income Tax Department, he took night classes in painting under Henri Bastings. In 1912, seeking a more stimulating environment, he moved to Sydney and enrolled in the Royal Art Society School, where he studied under Dattilo Rubbo alongside fellow students Grace Cossington Smith, Norah Simpson, and Roy de Maistre. Wakelin was influenced by the work of Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent van Gogh, which he encountered during his travels in the UK and Europe. Upon returning to Sydney, he experimented with these influences, focusing on color, light, and atmosphere to convey a sense of place in his art. In 1913, Wakelin began working at the New South Wales Land Tax Office. He later joined the advertising firm Smith and Julius in 1917, where he worked alongside de Maistre, Rees, Leason, and others. At the Royal Art Society, he was exposed to modern French paintings and became captivated by Cézanne's work. After traveling in London and Paris, he returned to Sydney and joined the Contemporary Group, a collective of artists advocating for modernist approaches. Wakelin's work was the subject of a major retrospective at the Art Gallery of NSW in 1967, and he is represented in all major public galleries in Australia. Roland Wakelin is remembered as a key figure in the establishment of modernism in Australian art. His innovative use of color and form, along with his commitment to expressing the Australian landscape and urban scenes, left a lasting impact on the country's artistic landscape.