Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 8 : Pressclippings, 1977-1981

"The best of Leonard French's work seems always to have come out of his obsession with a 'Grand Heroic Mythology'. His imagery has been reinforced by a deep seated passion for the films of Bunue/ - particular/{ the ones made in Mexico. These early Bunue/ films were often about the rise and fa/ ofpowerful men and their final deaths. In /h11tli of II Ge11er11/ (Enamel on hessian on plywood, I37.2 x 122 cm/. with the powerful, brooding jacket against a timeless, pearly sky (or is it dawn?/ the General's hands relaxed behind him (or are they tied?/ and the buttons turning into bullet holes, we see French's complex, emotive iconography at its best." Larence Daws, Trustee.:, e/ow: "The acquisition of John Rigby's Moggi/1 Vil/11gt (oil on anvas 83.7 x 9/ .2 cm) gave me pee/al pleasure not only for the warmth and vitality of the intlng. but as repre.ienting a high point in the work of a notable Queensland artist. Art lovers will be aware that It was one of the works chosen by Elwyn Lynn for his recent work on the Australian landscape. " P. D. Connolly, Aeling President of Trustees. Right: "Looby is a 111011 with II stra11gr .wrrcalist vi.,io11. fl i • f'{rd > glimpses /11.<ide people mu/ si11111t/011.1· illll'e b1•1•11 sti11111..1ti111/ f"'J>le for 111a11y y,•ars. Ill recc111 rears Ire has bce11 co11 /'TIit' wi h packagin!i /ij,· (Ill(/ 1/11• '."aJ' i11 which lift• parktige.t 11.<. TM apwoach ill~S bee11 ''.'f!St approprtatefor his .,eri<'.< paillled i11 I 9 6 Bondi Clan Picture,-. l hes,• 11r,• based 011 !,is 011·11 school exrwri£'11res a11d class phows. They art• 11wi11/y /11 sets ofs,·•·1·11.f rom ki11dergar1e11 to sixth c/as., a11d appear i11 1·ario11s 11wdia. Looby did 11ot like .<rhool a, ran lw .!I'•'" · fi e wn,· 011 "111uler-m·hie1w'', Th<' morbiditJ' of lri.i pali:11,, sr1ells g/00111 as the perso11111itil.'s are 1111packaged through the years. 8111 i11 Clan J /llcrJ•llc a11d li1111atex 011 a111·1s. I15 x ! 51.~ t m/ he .(~mnd pai11ti11g, a11d a (lash oj co/or il/11mi11111es hi., 1mpnwnmen1. The Very Reverend fan George, Dean of Brisbane, Trustee. Right: "Bessie Gihso11 occupies an 11nder-val11ed place in A11s1ralia11 art. Born in Ipswich, Queemland, in I868, .<he lived i11 Fra11ce f or m11ch of her life. Iler work is notable for its .H•11.1i1ivity and restrained 11se of co/or. The asymmetrical placement of the figure owe.< s'>mething to hegas. Bessie Gibson's work may be compared with 1/1<• lmer pai111i11g of the llmerira11 lmpre.<sionist artist Mary C11ssa11, who also lived and worked ill France. Ca.,·.rntt and Gihso11 were both IM11g i11 Paris in the first quarter of this renwry. ThiJ watercolor, P1mrai1 of u Girl i11 a Black Beret, is one of several work.< by Bessi1· Gibson inc/11ded in the importalll G,,org1• Brown B~~uest 10 the Gallery. and i.f a sig11(11cant additio11 to the collection.' (The painting is 49.5 x 42.5 cm). Bellina MacAulay, Education Officer.