Rare Glasgow painting of River Clyde by renowned artist to go under the hammer

A rare Glasgow landscape by one of Scotland's most renowned 20th century artist will go up for auction next week.

The work, called Glasgow Cityscape, by John Cunningham shows a bright spring day on the River Clyde looking towards Glasgow’s east end. It is expected to fetch up to £6,000 when it goes under the hammer on May 9 at McTear’s Scottish Contemporary Art Auction.

Glasgow Cityscape is considered a classic piece of Cunningham artwork, using the artist’s signature use of vibrant colour and bold brushstrokes.

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Commenting on the auction, McTear’s Director, Magda Ketterer, said: “John Cunningham was a giant of the Scottish art community during his lifetime, with his reputation continuing to grow following his death in 1998. His work can be found in galleries and private collections at home and overseas, with his stunning landscapes and seascapes attracting huge interest when they appear at auction.

“The artist’s oil on canvas, Sanna Bay, Ardnamurchan, sold for an impressive £13,000 (hammer) at McTear’s in March and we see similar interest building ahead of the May auction.”

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Born in 1926 in Lanarkshire, the eldest of seven children, John Cunningham attended Glasgow School of Art (GSA) from 1943 to 1950, excluding war service. He returned to the GSA as a senior lecturer from 1967 to 1985.

Although he painted in France, Spain, Italy and Ireland over the years, Cunningham had a passion for Scotland’s west coast and consistently returned to capture the landscapes of the area.

Glasgow Cityscape will be one of 278 lots in McTear’s The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction on Thursday, May 9. The sale will feature an impressive collection of leading Scottish artists including John Bellany, Peter Howson, Gerard Burns, Graham McKean, John Byrne, Alexander Millar and John Lowrie Morrison, amongst others.