William Dobell
(Australia, England 24 Sep 1899–13 May 1970)
- Title
- Study for 'Pearl'
- Year
- (circa 1940)
- Media category
- Drawing
- Materials used
- pen and brown ink, charcoal on paper
- Dimensions
-
22.7 x 17.7cm sheet
- Signature & date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Purchased with funds provided by the Gil & Shay Docking Drawing Fund 2007
- Accession number
- 250.2007
- Copyright
- © Courtesy Sir William Dobell Art Foundation.
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
This drawing is a study for a painting, 'Pearl' 1940, in the Gallery's collection. It dates from a significant period in the artist's career when he returned to Sydney in 1938 after nine years in London, during which him he established his reputation as a major Australian painter.
The fluid linearity of the drawing reveals Dobell's facility as a draughtsman, evoking the fleshy thighs, contented self-absorption and disheveled appearance of his subject. Drawn from life as were all Dobell's figure studies of the period, it is a lyrical and expressive precursor to the final work, revealing Dobell’s creative process in the development of paintings.
© Australian Art Department, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2007
- Bibliography (1)
-
Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Hendrik Kolenberg (Netherlands; Australia) (Author), Peter Raissis (Australia) (Author), Prue Davidson (Australia) (Author), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Author), William Dobell - the painter's progress, Sydney, 1997, 76 (colour illus.). cat.no. 24b
- Exhibition history (5)
-
William Dobell the painter's progress (1997-1998), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 14 Feb 1997–27 Apr 1997.
William Dobell the painter's progress (1997-1998), Newcastle Region Art Gallery, 07 May 1997–06 Jul 1997.
William Dobell the painter's progress (1997-1998), Museum of Modern Art at Heide, 29 Jul 1997–21 Sep 1997.
William Dobell the painter's progress (1997-1998), Queensland Art Gallery, 25 Oct 1997–07 Dec 1997.
William Dobell the painter's progress (1997-1998), Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 08 Jan 1998–01 Mar 1998.
