Rosemary Madigan

(Australia 05 Dec 1926– )

Title

Mnemosyne

Year

1976

Media category

Sculpture

Materials used

bronze with green patina on a slate base

Dimensions

32.0 x 18.0 x 23.5cm

Signature & date

Signed and dated l.l. verso, incised "RM 76".

Credit

D G Wilson Bequest Fund 2000

Accession number

529.2000

Copyright

Location

Not on display

Further information

A previous student of the ESTC and The John Cass College London, Madigan has become, over an understated career spanning four decades, arguably Australia's most significant figurative carver. The female torso, the focus of much of her work, has led her to create sculptures which, at their best, have the sensuousness, subtlety and rigour of the greatest of the Indian carvings she admires.

The female torso is represented in the Gallery collection by the jarrah wood 'Torso' (1954), her presentation work for the Travelling Art Scholarship, a sandstone 'Torso' (1986), which won the Wynne prize in (1986/7) and the recently gifted bronzes, 'Torso' (1986) and 'Group of three figures' (1983).

Madigan's bronze head 'Mnemosyne' on the other hand is the most significant portrait the artist has produced. Depicting both her daughter and the classical muse of Memory, it is a particularly impressive work.

Australian Art Department 2000

Bibliography (3)

'Rosemary Madigan, sculptor' by Deborah Edwards, pg. 26-29., Look Feb 2011, Feb 2011. Article on the Australian Collection Focus Room

Deborah Edwards (Australia) (Author), Australian Collection Focus: Torso 1954 and Torso 1986, Sydney, 2011, 10 (colour illus.). cat.no. 2

Deborah Edwards (Australia) (Author), Presence & absence: portrait sculpture in Australia, Canberra, 2003, 59, 61 (colour illus.), 61, 83. cat.no. 54

Exhibition history (2)

Rosemary Madigan: a survey show 1949-2000, Ray Hughes Gallery, Sydney, 02 Feb 2001–21 Feb 2001.

Presence and absence: portrait sculpture in Australia, National Portrait Gallery [Old Parliament House], 22 Aug 2003–16 Nov 2003.