The Pound was the original premises of the East Anglian School of Art, where David studied under Sir Cedric Morris. The school moved to Benton End after a fire destroyed the school. The fire has variously been attributed to Lucian Freud, David Kentish’s friend and fellow pupil.
Oil on canvas.
Collection: RDK
David’s son, Rolfe Kentish, visited Benton End on 26th April 2025 and took these shots from the orchard where David, Cedric, and presumably other students, painted the scene.
View of outbuildings next to Benton End by Cedric Morris (1889-1982) coming up for auction @cheffinsfineart on 23rd February 2023.
This work was given by Cedric Morris to fellow artist Lucy Harwood, one of the first artists to join the school in 1937, aged 43. Regarded as a stalwart of the Benton End group and sharing a number of personal and artistic similarities with her tutors, Harwood formed a close friendship with Cedric and Lett. Over a period of years at the school Harwood acquired and was gifted a collection of paintings by the pair. Upon her death in 1972 a large majority of the paintings were returned to Cedric and Lett. It is believed that the present work was left with the Harwood family due to floral composition on the reverse, which has subsequently been attributed to Lucy Harwood.
- Benton End by Cedric Morris (1889-1992), the reverse painted with a floral still life attributed to Lucy Harwood (1893-1972).
- Oil on board, unframed
- 53cm x 42.5cm
- Auction estimate – £10,000 – £15,000
- Provenance: Sir Cedric Lockwood Morris
- Collection of Lucy Harwood and thence by family descent to the current owner
- © bentonend.co.uk