Still life
(Nature morte)
(1953)
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
65.0 × 81.2 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1954
Gallery location
Late 19th & early 20th Century Paintings & Decorative Arts Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
Even though Nicolas de Staël’s lyrical canvases from 1943–52 were mostly devoid of recognisable objects or references, he always protested that he was not an abstract artist, but a non-figurative one. For de Staël, his seemingly abstract compositions always had firm roots in his eye’s perception of specific effects of light, colour and spatial form. After 1952 he reintroduced figurative elements into his art, painting landscapes and, as in this jewel-like example, still lifes. De Staël’s hugely successful career in post-war Europe was cut short by his premature death by suicide.
Artwork Details
Inscription
inscribed in grey paint l.l.: Staël
Accession Number
3085-4
Department
International Painting
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
Subjects (general)
Abstract Art Still Lifes Utilitarian Objects
Subjects (specific)
blue (colour) flat (form attributes) impasto jars primary colours red (colour) white (colour) wine bottles