New art donation now on display in Upper Common Room

An abstract oil painting by Ian Meijer entitled ‘Fleurs pour un tombeau marin’, a generous donation from Wolfson MCR Ronnie Sonneborn (2002-), is now on display in the Upper Common Room.

Ian Meijer (1927-95) is believed to have painted the oil at his home in Dieudonne, a village 70km north of Paris. It was painted to commemorate the artist’s brother who had died – and was buried – at sea, with the painting’s strong colours representing flowers that were thrown overboard into the waves.

A Dutch artist known for his oil paintings and engravings, Meijer was a friend of Ronnie and his family, having met Ronnie’s father Edgar Sonneborn while on holiday in Positano, Italy. Meijer gave ‘Fleurs pour un tombeau marin’ to Ronnie as an act of friendship.

Wolfson is hugely grateful to Ronnie Sonneborn for the kind donation of this work, as well as for providing the history of its provenance.