November Art Auction Lot 4 - Still Life, Poppies & Peonies by Anne Primrose Jury
Born on 30th January 1907 in Dunmurry, County Antrim, Anne Primrose Jury was a landscape, flower, and animal painter. Her father, Percy Morgan Jury, was an art nouveau architect. As a watercolourist himself, he encouraged Jury’s artistic endeavours. She studied at the Belfast School of Art, followed by further education in England, France and Switzerland. In spite of her travels, she would continue to live in Dunmurry for many years and her subjects would often return to scenes of County Antrim and County Down.
In 1929, Jury exhibited her work for the first time in the Royal Hibernian Academy. She continued to regularly exhibit with the RHA until 1965, typically showing flower pieces. In 1936, a solo exhibition of sixty-three works was presented at Rodman’s Gallery The majority of works were depictions of Donegal landscapes, yet her still life studies were praised as highlights of the show. Reviewing the exhibition, The Belfast Newsletter said, ‘Miss Jury’s paintings of flowers are on as high a plane as one will find in Irish art today.’ In 1937, another solo exhibition of landscapes and flower pieces was held again at Rodman’s Gallery, of which The Belfast Telegraph said Jury perpetuated the late Hans Iten as a still life painter. In 1938, her first exhibition in Dublin was hosted at the Victor Waddington Galleries. Supported by Waddington, Jury’s work would soon reach America as he embarked on a 1939 trip also including works by William Conor and Paul Henry. The same year, Jury exhibited at the Spring Show in the Irish Industries Hall.
After the war, Jury’s exhibiting was primarily confined to the Ulster Academy, and its successor, the Royal Ulster Academy. She was part of a group of artists shaping the aesthetic of the Academy and maintaining traditional standards of painting in post-war art. She was appointed an associate of the Ulster Academy of Arts in 1933, and became an academician in 1976. Between 1951-54, she showed twelve works at the RUA with the majority being floral studies. In 1966, Jury was one of seven artists included in the ‘Ulster Artists Group’, an exhibition shown at the Gordon Gallery, Wimbledon. In 1977, she moved to ‘The Wee Field’, Dunfanaghy, where she also had a studio.
Jury’s subjects often varied between landscapes, animal portraits, and still life studies. Throughout her life, Jury worked for the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with her love of animals often influencing her subject matter. Her flower pieces were often highly praised for exemplifying her skill for composition and draughtsmanship. In Lot 4, a still life study of poppies and peonies, Jury achieved a composition of careful balance, highlighting the lightness of the flower petals and their vibrant colour with the contrasting rich shadows of the background, exemplifying her painterly skill and technique.
Jury died in hospital in Letterkenny in August 1995. A studio sale of her works was held at Ross’s Auctions, Belfast, with the proceeds benefitting the USPCA.
Born on 30th January 1907 in Dunmurry, County Antrim, Anne Primrose Jury was a landscape, flower, and animal painter. Her father, Percy Morgan Jury, was an art nouveau architect. As a watercolourist himself, he encouraged Jury’s artistic endeavours. She studied at the Belfast School of Art, followed by further education in England, France and Switzerland. In spite of her travels, she would continue to live in Dunmurry for many years and her subjects would often return to scenes of County Antrim and County Down.
In 1929, Jury exhibited her work for the first time in the Royal Hibernian Academy. She continued to regularly exhibit with the RHA until 1965, typically showing flower pieces. In 1936, a solo exhibition of sixty-three works was presented at Rodman’s Gallery The majority of works were depictions of Donegal landscapes, yet her still life studies were praised as highlights of the show. Reviewing the exhibition, The Belfast Newsletter said, ‘Miss Jury’s paintings of flowers are on as high a plane as one will find in Irish art today.’ In 1937, another solo exhibition of landscapes and flower pieces was held again at Rodman’s Gallery, of which The Belfast Telegraph said Jury perpetuated the late Hans Iten as a still life painter. In 1938, her first exhibition in Dublin was hosted at the Victor Waddington Galleries. Supported by Waddington, Jury’s work would soon reach America as he embarked on a 1939 trip also including works by William Conor and Paul Henry. The same year, Jury exhibited at the Spring Show in the Irish Industries Hall.
After the war, Jury’s exhibiting was primarily confined to the Ulster Academy, and its successor, the Royal Ulster Academy. She was part of a group of artists shaping the aesthetic of the Academy and maintaining traditional standards of painting in post-war art. She was appointed an associate of the Ulster Academy of Arts in 1933, and became an academician in 1976. Between 1951-54, she showed twelve works at the RUA with the majority being floral studies. In 1966, Jury was one of seven artists included in the ‘Ulster Artists Group’, an exhibition shown at the Gordon Gallery, Wimbledon. In 1977, she moved to ‘The Wee Field’, Dunfanaghy, where she also had a studio.
Jury’s subjects often varied between landscapes, animal portraits, and still life studies. Throughout her life, Jury worked for the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with her love of animals often influencing her subject matter. Her flower pieces were often highly praised for exemplifying her skill for composition and draughtsmanship. In Lot 4, a still life study of poppies and peonies, Jury achieved a composition of careful balance, highlighting the lightness of the flower petals and their vibrant colour with the contrasting rich shadows of the background, exemplifying her painterly skill and technique.
Jury died in hospital in Letterkenny in August 1995. A studio sale of her works was held at Ross’s Auctions, Belfast, with the proceeds benefitting the USPCA.
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