Gattemelata

Maker

(artist)
1886-1980

Title

Gattemelata

Date of Production

1948

Medium

coloured crayons on wove paper

Dimensions

Height: 32.4 cm
Width: 42.4 cm

Accession Number

D.1978.PG.271

Mode of Acquisition

Count Antoine Seilern, bequest, 1978

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Label Text

The modern form of coloured crayons was developed during the early 19th century, through experiments mixing pigments with greasy substances such as wax, tallow or soap. The greasy ingredients made crayons less dry and crumbly, and less prone to smudging, than chalks or pastels. Kokoschka's habit of taking crayons with him on his travels began in 1941, because of a war-time shortage of artists' materials. Kokoschka used the crayons' colours for expressive rather than descriptive purposes, suggesting space and light but not the colour of Donatello's bronze equestrian statue. He is said to have advised a pupil to carry a wallet of crayons around in her pocket but 'not to worry unduly which colour she selected.'

Provenance

purchased from the artist by Count Antoine Seilern, Vienna then London (1901-1978), 1949 (£80); Princes Gate Bequest 1978

Exhibition History

Material Evidence, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/10/1998-24/01/1999

Kokoschka - Prints, Illustrated Books and Drawings in the
Princes Gate Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 09/09/1992-28/10/1992

Kokoschka, Tate Gallery, London, 1962

Literature

Material Evidence, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1998-1999

Kokoschka - Prints, Illustrated Books and Drawings in the Princes Gate Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1992
cat. no. 17
pp. 11 (colour), 56 (black and white)

Kokoschka, Tate Gallery, London, 1962
cat. no. 217 ...More

Seilern, Count Antoine, Paintings and drawings of Continental Schools other than Flemish and Italian at 56 Princes Gate, London SW7, London 1961; III
no. 271
pl. CVII ...Less

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Collector's mark: none.

Inscription: Recto: lower right, graphite, signed and dated: “OKokoschka 48”. Verso: left centre edge, graphite: “Size I”; lower right corner, graphite: “3”.

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