Description:

U BA NYAN (BURMESE 1897-1945)
Cotswold Landscape, 1926
watercolor on paper
17 x 24 cm (6 5/8 x 9 1/2 in.)
framed dimensions: 32.7 x 39 cm (12 7/8 x 15 3/8 in.)
signed lower right

PROVENANCE
Property of a Gentleman, White Plains

LOT NOTES
U Ba Nyan stands as the father of modern Burmese painting, the artist who first synthesized Western oil and watercolor techniques with the lyricism of traditional Burmese aesthetics. Born in Pantanaw, Lower Burma, in 1897, Ba Nyan studied at the Government School of Art in Calcutta before traveling to London in 1921 on a state scholarship. There, he trained at the Royal College of Art under Sir Frank Brangwyn and exhibited at the Royal Academy, absorbing European approaches to light, color, and structure that would transform Burmese painting upon his return. He also would visit and paint in the English countryside in 1925 and 1927.

During his time in Britain, Ba Nyan painted a series of English landscapes - of which Cotswold Landscape is a rare and evocative example. The painting reveals his refined command of watercolor: luminous yet precise, with layered washes that articulate both atmosphere and form. Soft greens and ochres mingle with the cool haze of distant hills, capturing the subtle modulation of English light while retaining the artist’s innate sense of rhythmic composition.

After returning to Burma in 1930, Ba Nyan became principal of the Rangoon School of Fine Arts, mentoring a generation of artists - among them U San Win, U Ngwe Gaing, and U Ba Zaw - who would carry his influence into the postwar era. His integration of European naturalism and Burmese sensibility reshaped the country’s visual identity, marking a defining shift from craft-based traditional art to modern fine art.

Ba Nyan’s works are held in the National Museum of Myanmar, the British Museum, and numerous private collections. Cotswold Landscape offers a glimpse into the formative period of an artist whose vision bridged continents and inaugurated a new era in Southeast Asian painting.

CONDITION
Observed in frame under glass, the work is in good condition, no visible issues to report.

N.B. Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

Keywords: Burmese painting, Burmese art, Myanmar

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October 25, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Bedford Hills, NY, US

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