An underwater Pre-Raphaelite figurative series based on Shakespeare announcing the death of the young princess

Capturing the forgotten alchemy of a medium often considered to serve a purely documentary function. Artist Alexander James creates meticulously crafted sculptural scenes; using studio made props, breeding butterflies, growing period specific flowers, hand making the dress and 24 carat gold halo for his Ophelia in 'Witness', 2012 from 'A beautiful announcement of death'; these endeavours imbue a deep and harmonious dialogue with his chosen subject that is ultimately to be encased within a vast underwater landscape. He does this solely for one purpose, that of documenting the act on a single 8 * 10 inch analogue film plate.

Through careful manipulation of water and light and without the use of postproduction techniques, the artist has produced a new series of photographic works that weave a deviant historical thread between the mechanical reproduction of today’s image making and the meticulous realism and existential gaze of painters such as Pieter Claesz of the 16th Century Vanitas tradition of painting. With direct reference to the classical paintings ‘Ophelia’ (1851–52) by John Everett Millais and ‘La Jeune Martyre’ (1855) by Paul De La Roche, ‘A beautiful announcement of death’ takes the tragic story of Hamlet’s Ophelia as a central focus, drawing also a comparison with Alexander James’ own personal experience of a former lover’s suicide.

In James’ practice the camera, like the painter’s oils, is a tool in which to eternally preserve the bodies of the artist’s subjects: at times a collection of inanimate objects held in a purgatory state and at others the bodies of characters inscribed with historical and personal narratives, which the final image forever tells. It is both ironic and telling that water, the very element which for the Greek Philosopher Heraclitus stood as a symbol for the unstoppable mill of time, changing everything in its wake, serves precisely as the functional device through which he achieves the mesmerising painterly effect of his photographs.

In this body of work Alexander James is often found in direct dialogue with the painters that have inspired him as he participates in the age-old practice of contextualising antiquities stories. In ‘A beautiful announcement of death’ photography emerges as a perplexing aporia, a kind of sorcery which successfully presences the past and yet only brings up ghosts.

His ability to weave a narrative with a single image count him as a powerful contemporary story-teller merging historical and art-historical reference seamlessly with personal history.

‘Eternal’ dated 2012.

Edition of III chromogenic prints sized at 31.5 x 31.5 inches / 80 x 80 cms.
+ II Artist Proofs.

Edition No. I. sized at 31.5 x 31.5 inches / 80 x 80 cms. - Available.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £6,800. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Riverbrook with peony’ dated 2012.

Edition of II chromogenic prints sized at 63 x 31.5 inches / 160 x 80 cms - SOLD OUT
+ II Artist Proofs.

Edition No. I - 63 x 31.5 inches / 160 x 80 cms - Available.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £14,200. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Turned from heavens door’ dated 2012.

Edition of II chromogenic prints sized at 80 x 53 inches / 180 x 135 cms.
+ II Artist Proofs.

Edition No. II of II - 80 x 53 inches / 180 x 135 cms.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, unmounted & unframed.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £19,200. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Resting in a bed of dreams’ dated 2012.

Edition of III chromogenic prints sized at 31.5 x 23.6 inches / 80 x 60 cms.
+ II Artist Proofs.

Edition No. I - 31.5 x 23.6 inches / 80 x 60 cms. - Available.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £6,200. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Riverbrook with roses’ dated 2012.

Edition of II chromogenic prints sized at 63 x 31.5 inches / 160 x 80 cms - SOLD OUT
+ II Artist Proofs.

Artist Proof No. I - 63 x 31.5 inches / 160 x 80 cms - Available.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £14,200. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Witness’ dated 2012.

Edition of II chromogenic prints, 80 x 53 inches / 180 x 135 cms - SOLD OUT
+ II Artist Proofs.

Artist Proof No. I - 80 x 53 inches / 180 x 135 cms - Available.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £24,000. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Frequency of a crucifixion No. I’ Plate 0173, dated 2012.

Edition No. II of III sized at 15.8 x 11.8 inches / 40 x 30 cms.
+ II artist proofs.

Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £1,800. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Spash crucifixion No. I’ dated 2012.

Edition No. II of III sized at 15.8 x 11.8 inches / 40 x 30 cms.
+ II artist proofs.

Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £1,800. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Spash crucifixion No. II’ dated 2012.

Edition No. II of III sized at 15.8 x 11.8 inches / 40 x 30 cms.
+ II artist proofs.

Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £1,800. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Floral study 0448’ dated 2012.

Edition No. 2 of 5 sized at 11.8 x 11.8 inches / 30 x 30 cms.
+ II artist proofs.

Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £1,650. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Floral study 0459’ dated 2012.

Edition No. 2 of 5 sized at 11.8 x 11.8 inches / 30 x 30 cms.
+ II artist proofs.

Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £1,650. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Floral study 0464’ dated 2012.

Edition No. 2 of 5 sized at 11.8 x 11.8 inches / 30 x 30 cms.
+ II artist proofs.

Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £1,650. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Floral study 0498’ dated 2012.

Edition No. 2 of 5 sized at 11.8 x 11.8 inches / 30 x 30 cms.
+ II artist proofs.

Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £1,650. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Floral study 0503’ dated 2012.

Edition No. 2 of 5 sized at 11.8 x 11.8 inches / 30 x 30 cms.
+ II artist proofs.

Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £1,650. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Veiled skull with halo’ dated 2012.

Edition No. II of III sized at 15.8 x 11.8 inches / 40 x 30 cms.
+ II artist proofs.

Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £1,800. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Veiled skull’ dated 2012.

Edition No. II of III sized at 15.8 x 11.8 inches / 40 x 30 cms.
+ II artist proofs.

Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £1,800. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Veiled skull with flowers’ dated 2012.

Available in II Edition sizes + II Artist Proofs.
Edition I sized at 15.8 x 11.8 inches / 40 x 30 cms; in an edition of 3 prints.
Edition II sized at 47.2 x 35.4 inches / 120 x 90 cms; in an edition of 10 prints.

Edition No 2 of 10 sized at 47.2 x 35.4 inches / 120 x 90 cms.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, mounted to aluminium, face mounted with AR & UV museum acrylic, framed in American walnut.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £13,200
Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

Enquire about Edition I print availability.

‘Veiled skull with flowers’ dated 2012

initialed and numbered, work on paper

Dimensions: 42 x 60cms

Edition of 25

SOLD OUT

Provenance:
02/2018 Vernon 'Animae' ISBN 978-1-62273-384-2.
10/2013 Thames Hudson 'Natre Morte' ISBN10 0500239061.
03/2012 ‘Abeautiful announcement of death’ Pertwee Anderson & Gold Gallery, London.
Sold direct from the artists studio with encrypted NFC authentication tag, signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

‘Untitled plate 0345’ dated 2012.

Edition No. I of III chromogenic prints sized at 31.5 x 31.5 inches / 80 x 80 cms.
+ II Artist Proofs.

Edition No. I. sized at 31.5 x 31.5 inches / 80 x 80 cms. - Available.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, unmounted.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £4,800. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Riverbrook with violets’ dated 2012.

Edition of II chromogenic prints sized at 63 x 31.5 inches / 160 x 80 cms
+ II Artist Proofs.

Edition No. I of II available - 63 x 31.5 inches / 160 x 80 cms.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, unmounted & unframed.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £10,500. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Turned from heavens door reimagined’, plate 0173 dated 2012.

Edition of II chromogenic prints sized at 63 x 31.5 inches / 160 x 80 cms.
+ II Artist Proofs.

Edition No. I available - 63 x 31.5 inches / 160 x 80 cms.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, unmounted & unframed.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £12,500. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

‘Riverbrook with magnolia’ dated 2012.

Edition of II chromogenic prints sized at 63 x 31.5 inches / 160 x 80 cms.
+ II Artist Proofs.

Edition No. I available - 63 x 31.5 inches / 160 x 80 cms.
Printed on Fuji crystal archive paper, unmounted & unframed.

Provenance: exhibition 'A beautiful announcement of death' 2012. Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, London. Sold direct from the artists studio, encrypted NFC authentication tag with signature biometrics recorded in Catalogue Raisonné.

GBP £10,500. Delivery instructions taken once sale is complete.

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