Cornerstone No . 184 , page 17
the generally ‘ underprivileged ’ came to the fore . Was she influenced by L . S . Lowry ? Is a question often put – I think not as Eardley ’ s works were put in her mind by northern Italians , not folk from the ‘ Northern Powerhouse ’. However , we now take up the story back in Glasgow .
This is where Joan set up a studio in the region of Townhead – a much denigrated part of the city , but one which inspired GS 60 to paint ( and proclaim ) the existence of the squalid living conditions of many of those in the mighty city of ‘ St . Mungo ’. The failing shipyards of Port Glasgow became a focal point for this artist but the story does not ( unfortunately ) end there . Enter Catterline a charming fishing village near Stonehaven where Joan was taken to invest her time , and later her money , in the picturesque surroundings of this final inspiration to her artistic talent . The cottage she bought had no electricity , no running water and no little of anything else ; but its situation brought inspiration to our artist – seascapes ( with variations on the weather ), landscapes ( with changing seasons ) and many views of Catterline where she worked out-doors ( an activity that broke the relationship between Gauguin and van Gogh ...) but that ’ s another story and ours has to end here .
Joan Kathleen Harding Eardley , in 1955 , was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy , becoming a full member in 1963 . Perhaps a glittering future waited – who ’ s to see ? Breast cancer was diagnosed and the rest is bad history . Our subject refused treatment and , despite terrible pain continued her work – our legacy . You may see them ( her works ) at the Scottish National Gallery of modern Art and at the Glasgow museums each of which exhibit coastal scenes such as not to mention figurative works such as
( not to be missed ...). If you wish to see more of her masters , tune in to the Talbot Rice Gallery ( Edinburgh ) and the Royal Scottish Academy , not to mention the galleries above listed .
Joan Eardley died on August 16th 1963 .
Deadline for the next edition of Cornerstone : 12th March 2017