Rupert Bunny
(Australia, France 29 Sep 1864–25 May 1947)
- Title
- Tritons
- Place of origin
-
Paris →
France
- Year
- (circa 1890)
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
-
80.3 x 150.5cm stretcher; 109.3 x 179.1 x 5.5cm frame; 78.5 x 148.0cm sight edge
- Signature & date
- Signed l.r., black oil "Rupert C.W. Bunny.". Not dated.
- Credit
- Purchased 1969
- Accession number
- OA27.1969
- Location
- 19th c Australian art
- Further information
Exhibited in Paris at the Old Salon in 1890, 'Tritons' was the first painting by an Australian to receive an honourable mention. The work depicts a group of tritons – legendary creatures who lived both on land and at sea – enjoying an idle moment in their tranquil surroundings, and introduces some of the features which would come to characterise the artist’s work: a fascination for mythological subjects and the portrayal of the exotic within an intimate setting. Rupert Bunny has skilfully created a twilight ambience through delicate colour schemes, where the pale blue, silvery ocean and pink-toned sky are quietly reflected in the flesh tones of the figures.
- Bibliography (15)
-
'What lies beneath? Rupert Bunny comes in for close scrutiny in a new survey exhibition' by Christopher Allen, pg. 14-15., The Weekend Australian Review 12 Dec 2009-13 Dec 2009, 12 Dec 2009-13 Dec 2009, 14.
'Rupert Bunny: An exotic in the history of Australian art' by Deborah Edwards, pg. 28-32., Look Nov 2009, Nov 2009, 29, 31.
Deborah Edwards (Australia) (Author), Rupert Bunny: artist in Paris, Sydney, 2009, 36, 38-39 (colour illus.), 40, 44, 143, 157,190, 203 (colour illus.). cat.no. 4
John McDonald (Australia, b.1961) (Author), Art of Australia. Vol. 1: Exploration to Federation, Sydney, 2008, 520, 521 (colour illus.).
Desmond Macaulay (Author), Bettina Macaulay (Author), Singing in the heart: Music and the art of Rupert Bunny, Queensland, 2007, 35, 35 (colour illus.).
'Oz arts: our painters in the Paris Salons' by Anne Gérard, pg. 37-39., Look Dec 2006-Jan 2007, Dec 2006-Jan 2007, 37 (colour illus.), 39.
Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Parallel visions: works from the Australian collection, Domain, 2002, 20 (colour illus.), 21, 142, 147.
Mary Eagle (Australia, b.1944) (Author), The Art of Rupert Bunny, Parkes, 1991, 22-25, 22 (illus.), 257.
Deborah Edwards (Australia) (Author), Stampede of the Lower Gods: Classical Mythology in Australian Art, Domain, Sep 1989, 3, 4 (illus.), 63.
Linda Slutzkin (Australia, d.2005) (Author), On the beach, Sydney, 1982, 6 (illus.). cat.no. 1
'Australian collection' by Daniel Thomas, pg. 52-62., Art and Australia [vol. 10, no. 1] Jul 1972, Jul 1972, 52 (colour illus.).
'Rupert Bunny' by David Thomas, pg. 328-337., Art and Australia [vol. 9, no. 4] Mar 1972, Mar 1972, 328.
'Rupert Bunny' by David Thomas, pg. 550-575., Art Gallery of New South Wales Quarterly Oct 1970, Oct 1970, 550, 551 (illus.), 552, 554.
'Acquisitions for 1969', pg. 538., Art Gallery of New South Wales Quarterly Jul 1970, Jul 1970, 540 (illus.), 541. plate no. 9
David Thomas (Australia) (Author), John Henshaw (New Zealand; Australia, b.1929, d.2006) (Editor), Rupert Bunny, East Melbourne, 1970, 13 (colour illus.), 24, 26, 28, 38, 114. plate no. 1
- Exhibition history (5)
-
Salon de la Société des Artistes Français, 1890, Société des Artistes Français, 1890–1890.
Loan Exhibition - Collection of Paintings and Drawings by Australian Artists executed during the last 25 to 35 Years (1918), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 01 Apr 1918–30 Apr 1918.
On the Beach, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 08 Dec 1982–28 Dec 1982.
Stampede of the Lower Gods: Classical Mythology in Australian Art 1890's-1930's, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 19 Oct 1989–26 Nov 1989.
Parallel Visions: Twenty-two artists from the Australian collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 22 Feb 2002–May 2003.
