Leaves 1978



Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 203.6 x 78.6

signed, dated and titled [on reverse, according to Sotheby’s]

Coll.: unknown

Not exhibited in HA Coventry 3/80, as indicated in Sotheby’s Nov.1995 auction catalogue, but owned by Chandler Coventry, who possibly purchased the picture before the 1980 exhibition opened (see also Arrows 1978).

Crawford & Edgar comment on the use of natural elements, and the ‘aura’, in this work (Spray 32). The painting, difficult to reproduce, is closely related to several early Arkley works on paper based on the same formal idea: see e.g. Untitled [UQ1] 1977 [W/P] and The Three Notations 1978 [W/P].

Provenance

  • Coll. Chandler Coventry, c.1980-96?
  • auctioned by Sotheby’s Melb., 28 Nov.1995, lot 645 (ill.; dets. as above; est.$4-6,000; not sold)
  • auctioned again by Sotheby’s, Melb., 17 June 1996, lot 132 (est.$2-4,000; not sold)

Exhibited

  • — (see comments above)

Literature

  • Spray 32 (see comments) and 33 (ill.: dated to 1979)