The ICHOR Collection

The Collection is an accumulation of works by myself, Anthony Christian, drawings and paintings in oil, executed over approximately the last thirty years; it represents all the subjects styles and techniques I have worked with during that period. Added to that is the Battle Scene, painted in the National Gallery, London, between 1956 and 1962, and finally it includes a magnificent Collection of pen and ink drawings by my wife Marian Fannon Christian, a marvellous contribution to the Collection as, whilst remaining equal in quality to the rest of the drawings in the Collection, it takes Drawing to the edge of abstract Surrealism. The Collection comprises approximately two hundred works, ranging in size from four inches by three inches to seven feet by five. The purpose of the Collection is for exhibition only; it is my dream to find a "home" for it, a Museum, and after it has been installed and settled for a year or two, I wish it to travel extensively to museums throughout the world, so that it may be enjoyed by a large number of people, which is its raison d'etre. It is my intention to keep adding to the Collection, whatever I think suitable, as long as I may live, so that it might, like anything of true value, evolve.

My reasons for having created this Collection, instead of selling all of my work as I went along, was as follows:

1) I found that seeing a large number and variety of any one Artist's work at any one given time was a vastly more valuable experience than just seeing one or two works, as would normally be the case. It is obvious that those who take the fantastic amount of trouble arranging such shows are of the same opinion, and it is apparent that the countless visitors also agree. Since I would hope that my own Art might move people, I decided from quite early on that I would give it the best chance possible to do so by making a Collection of at least one piece from each series I work on, or at least one major work from each year. I have managed, more or less, to do that with my drawings since 1970 and my paintings since 1975. My wife's drawings date from 1999.

2) I have travelled a great deal, and shown my work in many countries. The reaction to it has been most gratifying, simply that of people finding joy in something beautiful. But I have also found, in those who approach Art from a slightly more intellectual point of view, a general delight in discovering that, despite all the tendencies of so-called modern art, there is at least someone in the world still working in the Classical tradition, albeit in an innovative manner and often surreal in the extreme.

3) I believe that great Art causes positive vibrations in the air that help to balance the dark and negative ones that exist all over the world, now more than ever before. There are those who believe that Art should be a disturbing experience; I believe exactly the opposite. To me, seeing a great work of Art - a painting, book or glorious piece of music, a sculpture, dance or play, should be an inspiring and uplifting experience, and we have created this Collection with that belief.

I believe in a Force of love, truth and beauty which I call God. It is that Force which inspires me and from which I derived my Gift. More or less seduced by the He/She Force, I paint always with the feeling of "Oh, if only I could share this vision!" I measure the degree to which I have fulfilled this desire to share my joys - let the sorrows remain hidden in a dark secret corner - there are enough of them "out there" for me not to include any more in my Art - by the feeling I have when I look at a completed work. Does it really feel as I did when I was first inspired by the subject? The works I have collected are the ones that definitely do feel as good today as they did on the day they were created.

Art , I feel, is a journey; it is a voyage through the Artist's consciousness to an understanding of his Vision, which inspired him. Art is the sea, in which every single work is an island that invites you to rest awhile, to feast your senses and find joys for your Soul. If I have created anything like that for you, then indeed the existence of the ICHOR Collection is justified.

Anthony Christian

• If you would like to receive updates about new articles and the Gallery then join our Mailing List