The spectre of the gardenia
(Le Spectre du gardénia)
1936; made 1972
Medium
wool powder on plaster, metal zippers, 35mm colour positive film, suede and leather on wood
Measurements
34.3 × 18.0 × 22.0 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Yvonne Pettengell Bequest, 2013
© Marcel Jean/ADAGP, Paris. Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia Sydney
Gallery location
Late 19th & early 20th Century Paintings & Decorative Arts Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
In 1961 Marcel Jean explained the full significance of this work’s disturbing zippered eyes: ‘The zip fastener [in French fermeture éclair – ‘lightning fastener’] is introduced as a plastic translation of another current expression des yeux qui lancent des éclairs – “eyes flashing like lightning”.’ In order to create the sculpture, Jean covered a plaster copy of Jean-Antoine Houdon’s eighteenth-century bust of Madame du Barry, the mistress of Louis XV, with fabric and black paint.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Paris, France
Edition
ed. 4/9
Inscription
inscribed in fibre-tipped pen on base u.l.: 618 / “LE SPECTRE / DU GARDÉNIA” / (1936) / Edition 1972 / No (= under o) 4/9 / Marcel Jean
Accession Number
2013.936
Department
International Sculpture
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Dame Carol Colburn-Grigor CBE through Metal Manufactures Limited