Jack M. Ducker
Encyclopedia
Jack M. Ducker was a Scottish
painter
who almost exclusively specialized in highland
landscapes
. Most of his works are thought to have been created from 1910 until 1930, though his paintings are seldom dated. Little is known about Ducker personally, though dozens of his works have been sold at auction
(including sales at Bonhams
and Christie's
, in addition to many other auction houses). Ducker is interchangeably known in art reference sources as J. M. Ducker, J. Ducker, Jack Ducker, and possibly as John Ducker and James Ducker.
Jack M. Ducker's Barbizon
- and traditional English-inspired landscapes emphasize the majestic qualities of the Scottish and British countryside. Most of his artworks feature a muddy, earthy color pallet with an emphasis on the hazy and rust-like color spectrum that the Scottish highland
mountains offer. His scenes are idyllic, each often consisting of a similar compositional structure. Rocky mountains are usually the focal point, with additional emphasis on other natural objects such as gnarled, leafy trees, short shrubs, tall green grasses, and motionless lakes and ponds.
There is a serene quality to Ducker's work that contrasts sharply, and attractively, with the grand qualities of the expansive—even overpowering—landscapes he captures. On occasion Ducker includes wildfowl and grazing animals, such as sheep, and the farmers that tend them; though humans and livestock are seldom more than a diminutive addition to his sprawling landscapes. Ducker's brushwork is somewhat tight with an atmospheric quality and his finer details are controlled, though some of his works present a more forgiving brush with a painterly application. He typically signs his paintings in the lower left or right corners with the simple signature "JMDucker," or "JDucker" — occasionally underlining his last name.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
who almost exclusively specialized in highland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
landscapes
Landscape art
Landscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still...
. Most of his works are thought to have been created from 1910 until 1930, though his paintings are seldom dated. Little is known about Ducker personally, though dozens of his works have been sold at auction
Art sale
An art auction is the sale of art works, in most cases in an auction house.In England this dates from the latter part of the 17th century, when in most cases the names of the auctioneers were suppressed...
(including sales at Bonhams
Bonhams
Bonhams is a privately owned British auction house founded in 1793. It is the third largest auctioneer after Sotheby's and Christie's, and conducts around 700 auctions per year. It has 700 employees....
and Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
, in addition to many other auction houses). Ducker is interchangeably known in art reference sources as J. M. Ducker, J. Ducker, Jack Ducker, and possibly as John Ducker and James Ducker.
Artwork
Barbizon
Barbizon is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in north-central France. It is located near the Fontainebleau Forest.-Art history:The Barbizon school of painters is named after the village; Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet, leaders of the school, made their homes and died in the...
- and traditional English-inspired landscapes emphasize the majestic qualities of the Scottish and British countryside. Most of his artworks feature a muddy, earthy color pallet with an emphasis on the hazy and rust-like color spectrum that the Scottish highland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
mountains offer. His scenes are idyllic, each often consisting of a similar compositional structure. Rocky mountains are usually the focal point, with additional emphasis on other natural objects such as gnarled, leafy trees, short shrubs, tall green grasses, and motionless lakes and ponds.
There is a serene quality to Ducker's work that contrasts sharply, and attractively, with the grand qualities of the expansive—even overpowering—landscapes he captures. On occasion Ducker includes wildfowl and grazing animals, such as sheep, and the farmers that tend them; though humans and livestock are seldom more than a diminutive addition to his sprawling landscapes. Ducker's brushwork is somewhat tight with an atmospheric quality and his finer details are controlled, though some of his works present a more forgiving brush with a painterly application. He typically signs his paintings in the lower left or right corners with the simple signature "JMDucker," or "JDucker" — occasionally underlining his last name.