FAMILY, WORK AND PLACE
In 1962 Alexander Hollweg married Geraldine James, and together they made their first home together in the garden suburb of Bedford Park, London. He established a studio nearby and began teaching full time at Maidstone School of Art. Geraldine’s support was essential to him at this time. It was she who took responsibility for raising their children Rebecca, born in 1964, and Lucas, born three years later.
They spent family holidays visiting their Somerset friends Pat and John Wolseley at Nettlecombe, a place whose creative and sustaining atmosphere became increasingly important to Hollweg. He was in a long tradition of artists who found nourishment in rural peace and beauty but also maintained strong connections to the life of the city.
Oil on canvas, 93 x 74 cm
In this painting Geraldine is shown asleep at Bedford Park, while Hollweg himself is reflected in the wardrobe mirror. His loose handling of paint, leaving sketch marks and visible canvas, is reminiscent of artists such as Walter Sickert and William Coldstream.
Oil on canvas, 36 x 29 cm
Bedford Park in west London was a garden suburb that had long been attractive to artists and writers, including Camille Pissarro and W.B. Yeats. The Hollweg family home, designed by Norman Shaw, had an impressive tree-filled garden which provided subject matter for several paintings, including this one.
Oil on board, 37 x 43 cm
Pat Wolseley was a friend of the Hollwegs from Oxford days, when they had all been involved with the university’s theatre club. She married John Wolseley, heir of the Nettlecombe estate, soon after graduating and was the reason the Hollwegs first visited the area.
Gouache on paper, 38 x 56 cm
In 1965 Hollweg began teaching at Maidstone College of Art and remained there for eight years. Maidstone introduced him to contemporary developments in painting and sculpture and gave him confidence to explore different artistic media. He moved beyond a muted colour palette to create vibrant gouache paintings such as this one.
Gallery