Cartographer (after Durer) 1983



 

Synthetic polymer paint on paper on canvas, 160 x 120

signed, dated and titled [on reverse: ‘Cartographer (After Durer) / Howard Arkley ’83’]

Collection unknown [last auctioned August 2024]

First shown in the Arkley show at Roslyn Oxley9, June 1983, and regularly thereafter.

The imagery is derived from a woodcut attributed to Albrecht Dürer, showing a foolhardy sailor, first published in Sebastian Brant’s Ship of Fools (1494): see Gates 1989 and the discussion in Carnival 92-94. According to Spray, citing Arkley himself, the dream-like imagery of Werner Herzog’s 1982 film Fitzcarraldo was also a reference for this work.

The underlying map shows Northern Europe (with north to the right). An entry in Arkley’s Visual Diaries no.D 14 (dated Jan.1983) refers to a ‘Map from Frank’, suggesting that this map may have been sourced from his step-father, Frank Lewis. However, Elizabeth Gower (interview July 2010) suggests that this map was part of the large-format series that she and Arkley had used previously for their collaborative Map Book 1978 [3/M].

See also After Dürer (1987).

Provenance

  • Collection of the artist
  • P/C Melb., acquired from the above, 1987
  • Niagara Galleries, Melbourne
  • The Morgan Collection, Perth, acquired from the above, 2001
  • Auctioned by Bonhams, Sydney, 27 August 2024 (Morgan Collection sale), lot 35: ill., provenance details as above; est.$80-120,000; sold for $110,700 inc.B/P

Exhibited

  • HA Roslyn Oxley9, 6/83, cat.4 (as Cartographer)
  • HA Tolarno 10/83, cat.8 (Cartographer)
  • ANZART at Edinburgh, 8/84 and George Paton Gallery, University of Melbourne, 2/85 (‘Meaning & Excellence’)
  • HA Anima Gallery, Adelaide, 10/87, cat.6
  • Monash Uni. Gallery 10/89 (‘re:Creation/Re-creation’)
  • HA Monash 1991, cat.42
  • HA NGVA 2006-7 (shown in all 3 venues)

Literature

  • Gates 1989: 30-31 (ill.)
  • Duncan 1991: 7 (ill.)
  • Spray 66-67 (inc.ill.)
  • Carnival 92-94 and Fig.3.8