Study for Crivelli’s Garden

Paula Rego (1935 - 2022)

Acrylic on canvas

1990-1991

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© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images.

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  • About the work
    Location
    Country: UK
    City: London
    Place: Downing Street
    This painting is a study for one of the four murals depicting the lives of female saints that Paula Rego originally made for the restaurant in the National Gallery in London. Rego painted these studies and murals during her appointment as the first National Gallery Associate Artist in 1990–92.
    Working directly with the National Gallery’s collection, Rego took as her starting point the altarpiece 'Madonna della Rondine' by the 15th- century Venetian artist Carlo Crivelli. The lowest part of the altarpiece, depicted the lives of various saints and included glimpses of a garden which reminded Rego of her grandparents's garden in Portugal. In her studies and murals, Rego chose to tell the story of women from biblical history and folklore based on the Golden Legend, a collection of saint biographies compiled in the thirteenth century and widely circulated across Europe. Rego’s studies and murals show these women in Crivelli’s re-imagined garden surrounded by Portuguese blue and white tiles. Her depictions were based on people that Rego knew, including friends, family and members of the National Gallery staff.
    In 'Study for Crivelli’s Garden', Rego pays homage to women’s steadfastness and courage. She depicts saints who sacrificed themselves for their faith. They include a mourning Mary Magdalene dressed in black and a statue of St Catherine stomping on the Roman Emperor Maxentius, who had her tortured and sentenced to death.
  • About the artist
    Paula Rego was born in Lisbon in 1935. The subjects of her works explore human relationships, often influenced by her childhood memories of Portugal. She trained at the Slade School in London (1952–56) and met the painter Victor Willing. After marrying, they lived in Portugal from 1957–63. After his death, Rego settled in London in 1988 and that year, major shows featured at the Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon and the Serpentine Gallery. Her show, Nursery Rhymes toured internationally (1991–96) and retrospectives were held in Liverpool and Lisbon (1997). In 1998 a solo exhibition was held at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Rego’s works are held in international collections including the Tate, London and Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
  • Explore
    Places
    Subjects
    figurine (as Subject), statue (as Subject), sculpture (as Subject), book, allegory & symbolism, genre, woman, 20th century costume, staff, angel, dragon, putto, pool, ceramic tiles, archway, balcony, plinth (represented)
    Materials & Techniques
    acrylic (paint), canvas, acrylic painting
  • Details
    Artist
    Paula Rego (1935 - 2022)
    Title
    Study for Crivelli’s Garden
    Date
    1990-1991
    Medium
    Acrylic on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 80.00 cm, width: 100.00 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from the artist, April 1991
    Inscription
    None visible
    GAC number
    16766