BYZANTINE CROSS, 1964
Mertz collage of enamel and silver foil trays. 35¾ x 29¼in. (91.5 x 75.0cm.)
Monogrammed lower right
Inscribed on the reverse with the artist's name and the title of the work.
Damaged, with pieces missing.
Provenance
National Trust bequest.
Exhibited
Newlyn, Newlyn Art Gallery, 1967, No. 4.
Hamburg, Gallerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst, 1969, No. 14, (as
Byzantinischesn Kreuz), dimensions given as 93 x 78.5cm.
Bristol, Bristol Arts Centre, 1970, No. 23.
Exeter, City of Exeter Art Gallery, 1972, No. 48.
Literature
Colquhoun, 1971, illus b/w: ‘frozen dinner trays, painted and fastened to a board become a handsome Byzantine Cross.’ (1)
Athough the artist had been making collages for a number of years, this work marks the first appearance of what Colquhoun described as Merz collage in her work.
She had met Schwitters in London during the war whilst he was a refugee from Nazi Germany and wrote an article on his work, published in 1971. (2)
References
1. Colquhoun, I. Rubbish into Art. Times Educational Supplement, (Hobbies
and Handicrafts Extra), 10 December 1971
2. Colquhoun, I. Aperçu sur l'Origine du Collage. Fantasmagie, No. 31,
December, 1971.