AN oil painting of St Ives will take pride of place in an art auction on Tuesday, January 27.

St Ives, Cornwall by David Bomberg, painted in 1947, is described as “a major highlight” of Anderson and Garland’s Modern Art & Design Auction.

Born in 1890, David Bomberg was one of the Whitechapel Boys and among the most radical artists of his generation at the Slade School of Art. His early work fused influences of cubism and futurism into bold geometric compositions, though his uncompromising approach led to his expulsion from the Slade in 1913.

Following his experiences as a soldier during the First World War, Bomberg’s style evolved towards a more expressive and deeply felt engagement with landscape and the human figure. He is now recognised as one of the most compelling figures in 20th century British art.

Bomberg made a painting trip to Cornwall in the summer of 1947, staying at Trendrine Farm near Zennor for about six weeks, with friends and family including his wife Lilian and their daughter. The rugged West Penwith landscape appealed strongly to him, and his oil paintings from this period are noted for their warm colours and dramatic evening skies.

The work is signed and dated, with the title inscribed on the label verso, with a further label stating that it is part of the “Collection of Mrs Lilian Bomberg”. Its value is estimated at £50,000 to £80,000.

Julian Thomson, director at Anderson & Garland, said: “This painting of St Ives represents a particularly strong moment in his career and comes from a highly regarded private collection. Works of this calibre are increasingly scarce on the open market, and with sustained international interest in Bomberg’s work, we would not be surprised to see this example attract competitive bidding and comfortably achieve a six-figure sum.”