DAVID TINDLE, R.A. (BRITISH, b.1932)
Works from the family of Christopher Fry

DAVID TINDLE, R.A. (BRITISH, b.1932)
Dockland
signed and dated 'Tindle/60' (lower right)
oil on canvas
71.1 x 91.5 cm. (28 x 36 in.)

Provenance
The artist, whom gifted to the family of the present owner

Christopher Fry, was a key figure in the revival of poetic drama in Britain, standing alongside T.S. Eliot. His most celebrated work, The Lady’s Not for Burning (1948), became a landmark of postwar theatre, captivating audiences with its lyrical brilliance and wit. Originally a schoolteacher, he transitioned to theatre, founding the Tunbridge Wells Repertory Players before earning commissions for religious plays that cemented his reputation. While the rise of prose realism in the mid-1950s shifted theatrical trends, Fry’s talent and adaptability led him to Hollywood, where he played a significant role in rewriting Ben Hur (1959). Undeterred by changing tastes, he continued writing into his nineties, always maintaining his passion for poetic drama. With warmth, intelligence, and a deep love for language, Fry made a lasting impact on theatre and film, leaving behind a legacy that extends well beyond his unintended association with Margaret Thatcher’s famous remark, “The lady’s not for turning.”

Christopher shared a close friendship with the renowned artist David Tindle, a bond reflected in the dedications on the following lots. The last time works from Christopher Fry’s collection were presented at auction, Chiswick Auctions set a still-standing record for Tindle, with Self-Portrait (1956) fetching an impressive £17,000. Additionally, an Algernon Cecil Newton from the same collection established the highest auction price for a work on paper, as Canal near Paddington achieved £15,000.