L13023

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Lot 146
  • 146

Bridget Riley

Estimate
250,000 - 350,000 GBP
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Description

  • Bridget Riley
  • Danae
  • signed and dated '90 on the right side edge; signed, titled, dated 1990 and variously inscribed on the overlap; signed, titled, dated 1990 and variously inscribed on the stretcher
  • oil on linen
  • 165 by 227cm.; 65 by 89 3/8 in.

Provenance

Galerie Beyeler, Basel
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner

Exhibited

Basel, Galerie Beyeler, Bridget Riley, 1993, n.p., no. 11, illustrated in colour

Condition

Colours: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate although the overall tonality is much brighter in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. There is extremely minor wear to the top two and lower right corner tips. No restoration is apparent when examined under ultra-violet light.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Danae is a masterpiece of Bridget Riley’s later oeuvre: a magnificent exercise in the power of the diagonal and a glorious celebration of the potential of colour relations. A vibrant conjunction of warm chromatic tones combines in a rigidly geometrical framework to form a painting of graceful complexity, whilst epitomising Riley’s major creative concerns and ideals. Danae dates from a crucial point of Riley’s career, following the artist’s discovery of the diagonal as opposed to the vertical during the second half of the 1980s as part of a ceaseless quest to achieve an ever more distinctive creative language. The strongly elongated direction of the diagonal ‘lozenges’ ensures that Danae appears to dance with inherent sensations of movement and light, imbuing the painting with an extraordinary dynamism and energy. Riley has stated that, “I don’t paint light. I present a colour situation which releases light as you look at it” (the artist, cited in an interview with Robert Kudielka in: Robert Kudielka, Robert Kudielka on Bridget Riley, Essays and Interviews 1972-2003, London, 2005, p.23). The artist’s declaration is indicative of the immense importance of the viewer’s role: Riley encourages us to see in an entirely different way, ensuring that each spectator’s impression of Danaeis entirely unique and personal.

 Riley has been strongly influenced by the colours and patterns found within nature throughout her career, utilising her own experiences of her surroundings. The use of verdant greens alongside earthy reds and oranges and shades of marine blue within Danae arguably references the inspiration of the environment, creating a glorious kaleidoscope of naturalistic colour tones. Riley also appears to have made reference to mythological influences through the title of the work, evoking the ancient Greek tale of Danae. The daughter of King Acrisius and Queen Euridice, Danae has been immortalised by artists throughout the centuries due to the existence of a legend in which Zeus descends on Danae disguised as a shower of gold, resulting in the birth of their half-divine son, Perseus. The bright yellow and warm gold tones that recur within Danae can arguably be read as alluding to Zeus in his fantastical guise, allowing Danae to be viewed as a contemporary interpretation of a classical myth. In its astounding technical and magisterial exploitation of the diagonal, Danae presents a captivating and carefully curated surge of colour with which the viewer is drawn to engage.