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 Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited