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University of Cambridge

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We are closed on Bank Holiday Mondays

Please note the house will be temporarily closed for 4 weeks from 14 March 2024

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Open: Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm

We are closed on Bank Holiday Mondays

Please note the house will be temporarily closed for 4 weeks from 14 March 2024

Ben Nicholson

Born 1894 – Died 1982

Ben Nicholson was the son of the painter William Nicholson. After marrying Winifred Roberts, during the 1920s he travelled widely and lived with her between Cumberland, London, Paris and Switzerland. Following a period experimenting with a post-Cézanne manner, Nicholson developed a consciously ‘primitive’ landscape style in 1927, further encouraged by his encounter with the art of Alfred Wallis. Between 1931 and 1939 he lived in London in close proximity to many artists and critics such as Moore, Piper, Martin, Ede and Herbert Read. He met Arp, Brancusi, and later Mondrian, Gabo and Jean Hélion. The influence of these artists led him to develop a highly abstract style of the late 1930s, for which he is most famous. In 1931 he met Barbara Hepworth, who would become his second wife. He returned to St. Ives during the war with Hepworth, Gabo and Stokes and established an international reputation in the 1950s and 60s. After the war he lived at various times in London, Cambridge and Switzerland and married a third time to Felicitas Vogler.

© Angela Verren Taunt 2024. All rights reserved, DACS. Photo: Kettle's Yard

ARTWORKS

Painting

1924 (bertha no. 2)

Ben Nicholson

1924 (bertha no. 2) Find out more

Painting

1944 (mugs)

Ben Nicholson

1944 (mugs) Find out more

Painting

1933 (musical instruments)

Ben Nicholson

1933 (musical instruments) Find out more

March 1962 (Argos)

Ben Nicholson

March 1962 (Argos) Find out more

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