John Craske (1881-1943)
Try Me [undated]

Description

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Craske was born in Sheringham, Norfolk, and followed his father into the fishing business, where he was remembered as a tireless worker. Ill-health delayed his war service and after enlisting in 1917 he served less than a month before being rapidly discharged first with influenza and then with the diagnosis of an incurable abscess on the brain. When his father died shortly afterwards, Craske first sought refuge in painting and then in what he termed ‘painting in wool’, producing a considerable number of striking pieces of a type now generally referred to as naïve or folk art. Pears became an enthusiast for Craske’s work after being introduced to it by Sylvia Townsend Warner and acquired this particular piece in 1974. Four years later Craske’s picture of the barge Ivy was used for the cover of the Aldeburgh Festival programme book. Embroidery (silk on calico): 19.5 x 13.3 cm. Framed, glazed: 25.5 x 16.4 cm.