Three visions of Summer - Beach scenes

Welcome to the second in our series of online displays celebrating the delights of summer. 

What subject could be more redolent of summer than the meeting of sand, sea and sky! Beautiful beach scenes abound the early twentieth century in brilliant Post-Impressionist and Modern British paintings. A feeling of peace prevails the sun-drenched shores and jewel-bright seas of these idyllic coastal studies, becalmed by gently lapping waves and longed-for breeze. Around the British Isles, Scottish Colourist’s FCB Cadell and SJ Peploe capture the wild, secluded scenery of Iona off the western coast of Scotland, while Edward Seago records the cloud-scudded skies of East Anglia’s North Sea at Palling. Looking out towards the almost imperceptible horizon, LS Lowry’s serene Yachts float off the Lancashire coast at Lytham St Anne’s, while Dorothea Sharp’s Summer days depicts the childhood joy of sandcastle building. 

Across the waves, elegant figures promenade and prepare to bathe at the fashionable seaside resorts of Deauville, Paris-Plage and Les Sables d’Olonne documented with panache by Sir John Lavery, SJ Peploe and Albert Marquet. 

Bonnes vacances! 

Look out for the final Vision of Summer – flowers in the next few weeks!