Roy de Maistre
(Australia, England 27 Mar 1894–01 Mar 1968)
- Title
- On the deck
- Other titles:
- On board (On the deck)
On board - Year
- (1935)
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- oil on hardboard
- Dimensions
-
51.0 x 61.0cm board; 57.2 x 67.1 x 4.1cm frame
- Signature & date
- Signed l.r. corner, incised "R de Maistre". Not dated.
- Credit
- Gift of Patrick White 1974
- Accession number
- 45.1974
- Copyright
- © Caroline de Mestre Walker
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
This painting was derived from a photograph of the Duke of Windsor and Mrs Simpson honeymooning on the deck of their yacht. It depicts the two abstracted figures in the centre of the composition, framed and isolated by lines and shadows. Exemplifying de Maistre’s geometric-cubist style, the work is formed out of solid curves of funnels, wires and gunwales. Shadows echo and extend these curves, which intersect with the straight lines of other structures and create geometric forms of flat colour.
De Maistre created some of his most resolved paintings during the mid 1930s, living in England. The artist had left Australia unable to make a living solely from his practice.
- Bibliography (9)
-
Sue Cramer (Author), Lesley Harding (Australia) (Author), Cubism & Australian art, Carlton, 2009, 61 (colour illus.).
Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Parallel visions: works from the Australian collection, Domain, 2002, 54, 143.
Helen Verity Hewitt (Australia) (Author), Patrick White, painter, manqué: paintings, painters and their influence on his writing, Carlton, 2002, xi, 11, 14, following 48 (colour illus.), 130, 177.
Heather Johnson (Author), Roy de Maistre: The english years, New South Wales, 1995, 93, 107, 122, 124-125. plate no. 36 shows a study of figures for 'On the deck'
David Marr (Australia) (Author), Patrick White: A life by David Marr, Milsons Point, 1991, 169-170, 262.
Daniel Thomas (Curator), Project 14: Roy de Maistre 1894-1968, Sydney, 1976. cat.no. 10
Sir John Rothenstein (England, b.1901, d.1992) (Author), Bryan Robertson (b.1925) (Author), Roy de Maistre: A retrospective exhibition of paintings and drawings from 1917-1960, London, 1960, 12. cat.no. 36; Coll: Patrick White, Esq.
'Small and temporary: but it's a big pointer to the future' by Jill Sykes, pg. 28-29., Look Sep 2011, Sep 2011, 28, 29 (colour illus.).
Important Australian and International Art: Melbourne 22 November 2011, Melbourne, 2011, 30.
- Exhibition history (4)
-
Exhibition of paintings, sculpture and drawings by Roy de Maistre and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Leeds City Art Gallery, 26 Jun 1943–29 Aug 1943.
Roy de Maistre: Retrospective exhibition of Paintings and Drawings 1917-1960, Whitechapel Art Gallery, May 1960–Jun 1960.
Project 14 - Roy de Maistre: 1894-1968 (1976), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 04 Sep 1976–04 Oct 1976.
Parallel Visions: Twenty-two artists from the Australian collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 22 Feb 2002–May 2003.
