Pasquale Iannetti Art Gallery

Frank Dobson was born in Clerkenwell, England in 1886. He studied art in various schools including the Hastings School of Art and Hospitalfields in Arbroath, Scotland, as well as through an apprenticeship with sculptor, William Reynolds-Stephens. Although known mostly for his unique, figurative, sculpture, Dobson's early work with landscape and the nude form has been praised for its sensuality and technical mastery. In his autobiography, Dobson attributes much of his style to the influence of postimpressionism; most importantly by the works of Gauguin whose art often called upon images from non western culture. During his life he exhibited with other progressive artists such as John Turnbull and Edward Wadsworth. Althoughhis more classical work became "unfashionable", as abstract art became more common, his work is clearly an important step in the transitional period that would lead to the emergence of artists such as Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. He continued working in England until his death in 1963.