John Piper Art for Sale: Prints & Originals

John
Piper

John Piper, a British painter and printmaker, was recognized for his landscapes featuring churches and ruins, also creating works in stained glass and stage design. If you’re looking for original John Piper prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network’s most in-demand works.

Biography

John Piper was a prolific British artist, writer, and designer, known for his innovative use of abstract and semi-abstract forms in both his paintings and his architectural work. Born on December 13, 1903, in Epsom, Surrey, England, his early life was marked by a love of the outdoors, and a love of art that was nurtured by his father, who was a solicitor and amateur artist. Piper was educated at Epsom College and later studied at Richmond School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London.

In the 1930s, Piper became associated with the British abstract art movement, working alongside artists such as Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth. Piper's early works were heavily influenced by these artists, displaying an emphasis on geometric shapes and simple, almost monochromatic colour palettes. However, Piper soon began to develop his own distinct style, combining elements of abstraction with more traditional landscape painting.

During World War II, Piper was appointed as an official war artist. He documented the impact of the war on the British landscape, including the bombing of Coventry Cathedral in 1940. His emotive paintings of ruined buildings, such as the famous The Baptistry Window, Coventry Cathedral, captured the destruction and devastation caused by the war but also the resilience of the British spirit.

John Piper passed away on June 28, 1992, in Fawley Bottom, England, but his artistic legacy lives on. His innovative approach to blending abstract and figurative elements in his work has influenced generations of artists, and his architectural designs continue to be celebrated as modern masterpieces. Today, Piper's art can be found in numerous public and private collections worldwide, and his contributions to the world of art and design will forever be remembered.

One of the characteristics that set Piper apart from his contemporaries was his fascination with the British countryside and its historic architecture. He embraced the Romantic tradition of landscape painting, exploring the relationship between man and nature, while also incorporating abstract forms to create a modern visual language. This unique approach to art earned Piper widespread acclaim, and his paintings were soon exhibited at major galleries in London, including the National Gallery and the Tate.
Piper's fascination with architecture also led him to work as a set designer for theatre productions in London. He collaborated with some of the most celebrated playwrights of the time, including Benjamin Britten, creating visually stunning sets and costumes that captured the mood and atmosphere of the plays.
In the 1950s and 60s, Piper expanded his artistic practice to include stained glass design, creating impressive windows for churches and public buildings throughout the United Kingdom. One of his most famous projects was the design of the stained-glass windows for the new Coventry Cathedral, which was built to replace the original structure destroyed during the war. Piper's windows, with their abstract patterns and vibrant colours, are considered some of the finest examples of modern stained-glass art.
Throughout his career, Piper was also a prolific writer and critic, publishing numerous books and articles on art, architecture, and British heritage. He was an advocate for the preservation of historic buildings and was a founding member of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Titles by John Piper include Stained Glass: Art or Anti-Art?, Shropshire, A Shell Guide and, Buildings and Prospects.

Forms On A White Ground (1935) also employs a cut canvas technique, featuring vividly coloured hues meticulously applied to a white and grey painted panel. The composition intricately weaves together geometric shapes, exploring intersecting geometries. Piper strategically introduces a black rectangle with an appended semicircle at the centre of the piece, creating a focal point that enhances visual impact and spatial depth. This deliberate placement of the black element directs the viewer's gaze towards specific geometric configurations, heightening the artwork's dynamism and abstract complexity. Notably, this artwork has a prestigious provenance, originally owned by Sir Clifford Norton, a World War I officer and the British ambassador in Athens. Norton acquired it from Piper in 1966 and consigned it to Christie's, where it initially achieved a hammer price of £24,997. In June 2020, the painting reappeared at auction, realising £371,250 (including fees), highlighting the increasing value of Piper's artworks and the desirability of his abstract creations.