Simon Smith; Roger Cardinal; Gavin Stamp — Ralph Maynard Smith a Haunted Man Painter - Writer - Architect (1904-1964)

[London], Wolseley Fine Arts Ltd and Ralph Maynard Smith Trust, 2004. Cloth. A scarce and fascinating study of the professional and personal life, and works, of the British artist Ralph Maynard Smith. Ralph Maynard Smith was a twentieth century British artist who produced distinctive English landscape works, that developed from a charming lyrical and neo-romantic style to a unique surreal and emotionally-charged depiction of the landscape. Due to his desire to work in virtual secrecy Smith's work received little to no critical attention during his lifetime, but his work is beginning to be slowly accepted into the canon of twentieth century British Art, and has begun to be collected by museums, universities and private collectors all over the world. This work was written and prepared by his son Simon Smith, who (with his mother) reportedly saved his father's work 'from oblivion'- The Ralph Maynard Smith Trust. Copiously illustrated throughout with monochromatic and colour reproductions of Smith's work. A first edition copy. Complete with the original unclipped dustwrapper. In the publisher's original cloth binding with gilt title to front board and spine, and the original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally lovely, with only minor shelfwear to extremities. Dustwrapper excellent, with minor bumping to extremities. Very small section of loss to head of fore edge to rear of wrap. Internally firmly bound. pages very bright and clean throughout. Near Fine . Ill.: Various. Near Fine/Very Good Indeed.