Untitled 1976



Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 180 x 162

Signed and dated: ‘H.Arkley ’76’ (acc.to Leonard Joel)

Private collection, Melbourne

The history of this painting is unknown prior to its appearance at auction with Leonard Joel in Melbourne in 1991; there was no record of it in Arkley’s studio archives or slide collection. ID photo and confirmation of provenance kindly provided by the present owner, Feb.2022.

The canvas clearly relates to several of the artist’s other ‘white’ paintings dating from 1974-76: see e.g. Pauses (Interchronic) 1976. The juxtaposition of two contrasting forms made up of both sprayed and linear elements is also closely reminiscent of a number of his works on paper from the same period; Untitled [Christie’s] 1976 [W/P] is particularly comparable.

NB this work was previously listed as Untitled [‘Abstract’] 1976 (entry revised Feb./April 2022).

Provenance

  • auctioned by Leonard Joel, Melb., 16 April 1991, lot 180 (as ‘Abstract’; details as shown here; ill. (reversed); est.$3-4,000; sold for $3,000 plus buyer’s premium (acc.to AASD)
  • purchased from the above by the present owner