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An image of Nasturtiums by E Phillips Fox

E Phillips Fox

(Australia, France 12 Mar 1865–08 Oct 1915)

Title
Nasturtiums
Other titles:
Miss Edith Anderson
Mrs Penleigh Boyd
Reading in the garden
Year
(circa 1912)
Media category
Painting
Materials used
oil on canvas
Dimensions

91.5 x 71.5cm stretcher; 108.0 x 88.0 x 10.0cm frame

Signature & date
Signed l.l. corner, black oil " E.Phillips Fox". Not dated.
Credit
Purchased in memory of Margaret Olley with funds donated by the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales Collection Circle 2011
Accession number
400.2011
Location
19th c Australian art
Further information

'Nasturtiums' is the most arresting in a series of women-in-garden paintings which E Phillips Fox created over 1911–12. It features his characteristic use of reflected and dappled light as decorative patterning, and highlights the influence of fashionable Japonisme and Japanese print design. The model for 'Nasturtiums' was the young Australian artist Edith Anderson, who stayed with the artist and his wife Ethel Carrick over 1912.

However, as the title of the painting implies, Fox’s focus is on resolving a highly decorative composition (and less on painting an individual or capturing a moment of observation). He uses the model’s mauve and black accoutrements just as a still-life painter would arrange the objects of his composition, for the greatest formal effect.

Bibliography (20)

Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne (Australia, estab. 2007) (Compilator), Deutscher and Hackett fine art auction: Melbourne 29 August 2012, Melbourne, 2012, 86.

Look Apr 2012, Apr 2012, 11 (colour illus.).

Ruth Zubans (Author), Jane Clark (Australia) (Curator), E Phillips Fox 1865-1915, Melbourne, 1994, 66 (illus.). cat. no. 52

Ruth Zubans (Author), E. Phillips Fox (1865-1915) - His Life and Work, South Yarra, Feb 1995, 150 (col. illus), plate no. C67. cat. no. 406

Mary Eagle (Australia, b.1944) (Author), The oil paintings of E Phillips Fox in the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes, 1997, 62 (illus.).

Angela Goddard (Author), Art, love and life: Ethel Carrick and E Phillips Fox, Brisbane, 2011, 97 (col. illus.).

Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne (Australia, estab. 2007) (Compilator), Deutscher and Hackett Fine art auction: Melbourne Wednesday 31 August 2011, Woollahra, Aug 2011, 34-36, 37 (col. illus). lot no. 12

Help purchase 'Nasturtiums' by Deborah Edwards and Edmund Capon., Emanuel Phillips Fox 'Nasturtiums': A major acquisition in memory of Margaret Olley Aug 2011, Aug 2011, Cover (col. illus), inside text.

Society's "Perfect memorial" to Margaret Olley: flowers and an artist whose work she loved by Jill Sykes, pg. 15., Look Nov 2011, Nov 2011, 15 (col. illus).

'Honour to Olley as gallery buys in some of her taste' by Joyce Morgan, pg. 3., The Sydney Morning Herald 11 Oct 2011, 11 Oct 2011, 3 (col. illus). Image shows Edmund Capon unveiling the painting in Court 9.

'Romance frames our latest acquisition' by Elizabeth Fortescue, pg. 53., Daily telegraph 11 Oct 2011, 11 Oct 2011, 53 (col. illus). P53 of 'extra' section of newspaper.

'Gallery unveils Olley tribute', pg. 7., The Australian financial review 11 Oct 2011, 11 Oct 2011, 7 (col. illus).

'Rodin cast in 2010 to spruce up sale' by Terry Ingram, pg. 11., The Australian financial review 01 Sep 2011, 01 Sep 2011, 11.

'Frame of flowers for Olley', pg. 11., The Newcastle herald 11 Oct 2009, 11 Oct 2009, 18 (illus.). Article sourced from AAP.

'Olley honoured with painting by Fox', pg. 10., Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser 11 Oct 2011, 11 Oct 2011, 10.

'Olley honoured with Phillips Fox painting', pg. 8., The Border mail 11 Oct 2011, 11 Oct 2011, 8 (illus.).

'Fox painting a tribute to Olley', pg. 15., Illawarra mercury 11 Oct 2011, 11 Oct 2011, 15.

'Artist honoured with thing she loved most', pg. 13., Daily liberal 11 Oct 2011, 11 Oct 2011, 13. Article under heading 'EWS'.

'Capon unveils Olley tribute at AGNSW' by Tim Douglas., The Australian 10 Oct 2011, 10 Oct 2011, (col. illus). Image shows Director Edmund Capon in front of the painting on display in Court 9.

'From the president' by John Masters, pg. 13., Look Dec 2011-Jan 2012, Dec 2011-Jan 2012, 13.

Exhibition history (2)

The Art of E. Phillips Fox, National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], 09 Nov 1994–30 Jan 1995.

Art, love and life: Ethel Carrick and E. Phillips Fox, Queensland Art Gallery, 16 Apr 2011–07 Aug 2011.