George Bell

(Australia 01 Dec 1878–22 Oct 1966)

Title

Toinette

Place of origin

London → England

Year

1934

Media category

Painting

Materials used

oil on cardboard

Dimensions

48.7 x 37.9cm board; 64.7 x 53.5 x 4.3cm frame

Signature & date

Signed and dated l.r. corner, green oil "George Bell/ .../ 34".

Credit

Purchased 1971

Accession number

119.1971

Copyright

Location

20th & 21st c Australian art

Further information

This portrait depicts the artist’s only child, Antoinette, who was one of his favourite models. It is one of three portraits George Bell painted in London, and is a preliminary work for the final portrait held in the National Gallery of Victoria.

Bell travelled to England in 1934 to absorb new approaches to painting, motivated by his interest in modern art and growing dissatisfaction with the stagnation of the Australian art scene. His work from this period reveals certain stylistic changes, a consideration of line and form, and an increasing emphasis on colour. These developments, and Bell’s exposure to the work of Modigliani, are particularly evident in 'Toinette'.

Bibliography (4)

Desmond O'Shaughnessy (Author), Art and medicine: reminiscences & reflections of a retiring surgeon, Melbourne, 1999, 84 (colour illus.), 84.

Felicity St John Moore (Australia) (Author), Classical modernism: the George Bell circle, Melbourne, 1992, 4. A colour illustration of the National Gallery of Victoria version is reproduced on the same page.

'Australian art today' by Basil Burdett, pg. 15., The Studio Jan 1938, Jan 1938, 15 (illus.). NOTE: 'The Studio' was the international edition of the journal, published in London. 'The London Studio' was the New York edition, published in New York. The same article appeared in 'The London Studio', vol. XV, no. 82, page unknown.

'Modern art in Melbourne' by Basil Burdett, pg. 46., Art in Australia [series 3, no. 73] Nov 1938, Nov 1938, 46 (illus.).

Exhibition history (1)

George Bell, Artarmon Galleries, Aug 1971 -.

Collection

George Bell