Description
Subject & Medium
A striking C1965 mid-20th-century Expressionist ornithology oil painting on board titled “Cocks Fighting”, labelled verso by B.K. Gallie of Gloucestershire.
Two roosters clash in a burst of motion and colour — a timeless symbol of vitality, strength, and rivalry. Executed in thick, sculptural layers of oil on artist’s board (Dalex Board for Oils, England), the surface is richly textured with palette-knife gestures and sweeping, confident strokes.
The painting’s raw physicality and emotional force align it with the British Expressionist movement and the post-war School of London, recalling the work of Leon Kossoff and Frank Auerbach.
Composition & Technique
Heavy impasto / sculptural paint surface: Gallie, like Kossoff, treats paint as a substance to model and carve. The plumage and energy of the birds are built from dense, tactile strokes — a sculptural surface that catches light and shadow.
Expressive gesture over realism: Form yields to emotion. Each line and sweep conveys urgency and tension rather than anatomical precision — pure vitality on the edge of abstraction.
Limited palette, energetic neutrals: A cool grey ground contrasts with the fierce reds and yellows of the combs, heightening the dramatic struggle.
Dynamic, almost violent energy: The brushwork mirrors the subject itself — tense, alive, and combative — echoing Kossoff’s muscular, convulsive rhythm.
About Leon Kossoff (1926–2019)
Leon Kossoff was one of Britain’s foremost post-war painters and a key figure in the School of London, alongside Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, and Frank Auerbach.
Renowned for his thick impasto and emotional immediacy, Kossoff’s art explores the struggle between perception and feeling. His heavily worked surfaces give form to the pulse of lived experience — an approach that clearly informs Gallie’s handling in “Cocks Fighting.”
Kossoff’s works are held by major institutions worldwide, including the Tate, MoMA, and LACMA, and continue to inspire generations of painters with their expressive power and physical intensity.
Unsigned
Verso is the printed artist’s own address label reading:
B.K. Gallie, Honeysuckle Cottage, Uley, Dursley, Glos.
This includes the artist’s full name and address in Gloucestershire, confirming direct authorship and adding to the painting’s provenance integrity.
The label also shows the original pre-decimal price (£8 8s), firmly placing it in the early to mid-1960s.
Framed
Presented in a recently fitted Larson Julh gilt moulded frame, with museum quality protective AR70 glass cover which complements the work’s mid-century character.
Framed Dimensions:
58.5 cm (Height) × 68 cm (Width)
Depth: 2.5 cm
Provenance
Artist’s own address label verso, reading “B.K. Gallie, Honeysuckle Cottage, Uley, Dursley, Glos.” (Glos. meaning Gloucestershire).
Painted on Daler artist board manufactured by Daler Mountboards, Wareham, Dorset — a respected British maker of professional painting supports.
Acquired from a reputable art dealer in the Eastern Shires.
Subsequently curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd, specialists in British modernist and provincial works.
Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, featured in a survey of post-war British expressionism.
Later held in a private Gloucestershire collection.
This strong and traceable provenance links the work directly to the artist, the material manufacturer, regional art dealers, and museum exhibition history — reinforcing both authenticity and significance.
Why You’ll Love It
Expressive energy: Every inch of the surface pulses with motion and colour.
Textural depth: Thick, tactile paintwork that shifts beautifully under changing light.
Art-historical resonance: Evokes the dynamic style of Leon Kossoff and the School of London.
Conversation piece: A commanding focal point for any interior or gallery wall.
This is a painting that rewards close viewing — visceral, poetic, and true to the spirit of post-war expressionism.
Condition
Good vintage condition overall. Paint layers are stable and the surface presents beautifully, with only minor age-related wear & some craquelure consistent with a work of this period. The frame has small, unobtrusive scuffs but remains solid and display-ready.
Please review all photographs for an accurate visual reference.
Reserve: $8,100.00
Shipping:
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In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Chairish Auctions specialists are here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Chairish Auctions within 5 days of receiving the item.
Condition
Used
Buyer's Premium
15%
Expressionist Heavy Impasto Oil Painting Cocks Fight After Leon Kossoff C1965
Estimate $10,000-$12,000
Starting Price
$4,000
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Sporting, Animal & Equestrian Art Auction
May 07, 2026 5:00 PM EDTNew York, NY, United States
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