This show of Haute Couture drawings by David Downton, hosted by M.C. Gray at exhibition venue 4 Cromwell Place, took me back to my days working in the world of fashion. The glamour of the catwalk shows were the highlight of so much work yet over so fast.
I remember seeing illustrations by the wonderful René Gruau as a child in my grandmother’s fashion magazines; Downton comes from that same lineage. The swagger of mark-making also reminds me of society portraits by John Singer Sargent, featured in a previous post.
These large drawings are worked up from previous sketches whist retaining a sense of immediacy.
Downton uses the subtlety of charcoal to great effect.
Love the restrained use of colour.
You get an idea of the confidence of line and speed of his drawing in the sketchbook pages on display.
These elegant feet recall the last scene of Swan Song with Udo Kier as the flamboyant hairdresser. If you’ve seen it you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
