Mary Fedden O.B.E. R.A. (British, 1915-2012)
Magic Flute

signed and dated 'Fedden 1991' (lower left); further signed and titled 'Mary Fedden/Magic Flute' (to a label attached to canvas stretcher)
oil on canvas

Dimensions: 60.3 x 50.8 cm. (23 3/4 x 20 in.)

With Glyndebourne Festival Gallery, East Sussex, 21 May 1991, where purchased by the present owners

Widely celebrated as one of Britain’s most beloved and enduring artists, Mary Fedden combined lyricism, wit, and a deep sense of narrative in her distinctive still lifes and imaginative scenes. Trained at the Slade School of Fine Art, Fedden’s career spanned more than seven decades, during which she became the first woman to teach painting at the Royal College of Art, mentoring a generation of artists. Her work, instantly recognisable for its clarity of colour, simplicity of form, and poetic composition, has found a lasting place in both public institutions and distinguished private collections.

Painted in 1991, Magic Flute exemplifies Fedden’s singular gift for blending the real and the fantastical. Inspired by Mozart’s beloved opera, the painting reimagines its spirit through a dreamlike pastoral setting, where theatrical figures, rendered with bold colour and childlike directness, stand amidst a landscape alive with rhythm and harmony. The elegantly robed figure in red, possibly a depiction of Fedden herself, reaches toward Papageno, the opera’s endearing bird-catcher, whose feathered costume and expressive stance embody the work’s playful yet tender tone. Their quiet exchange beside a tranquil river is suffused with lyricism and balance, reflecting Fedden’s enduring fascination with storytelling, music, and the emotional charge of colour.

“Painting for me is a sort of music; it’s full of rhythm and harmony.” - Mary Fedden

Acquired directly from Glyndebourne House, home of the world-famous opera festival, Magic Flute carries an exceptional provenance that links it intimately to the performance traditions that inspired it. The painting stands as a joyous testament to Fedden’s lifelong delight in art’s capacity to enchant. Through her vibrant palette and whimsical imagination, Fedden transforms the operatic narrative into a universal meditation on beauty, love, and play.