Haddelsey's Horses

Jonathan Cape, London, first edition, 1978. Cloth, gilt horse illustration on cover, oblong 4to, 27 x 29 cm,. 64 pp, plates, ills. From the blurb: Haddelsey's Horses is the first collection of Vincent Haddelsey's paintings to be published. Although exhibitions of his work have been held in Britain, Haddelsey is probably not as widely known as his talent deserves. However, in this country, his work is to be found in the Royal Collection, in the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum; and in the United States, in the Paul Mellon Collection. His reputation in Europe has been well established for many years and in 1969 he won the International Grand Prix for naif painters at Lugano in Switzerland. Haddelsey was brought up in the Lincolnshire countryside and throughout his life horses have always been important both in work and play. This love and knowledge of horses comes through all the time in his paintings, whether they are reflecting the rural hunting scene or the town ceremonial procession. Glowing with optimism and enthusiasm, rich in colour and attention to detail, Haddelsey's scenes echo his interests and enjoyment of life, inviting the observer to share in what he sees and perhaps also to discover his own surroundings through the painter's eyes.This book brings Haddelsey's paintings to a wider public than has been possible before and it shows quite clearly why he has become one of the leading naif artists of our day. Near Very Good in a dustwrapper whose inside flaps are a little yellowed.