Tony Bevan, R.A.

Flowers East Gallery, London, where acquired by the present owner in 1989

Original canvas. The canvas has been strip lined with strips of material, as is the artist's practice. The edges are slightly dirty and there is a minor scuff mark along the top edge. The surface is intentionally uneven. There are scattered areas of surface dirt and an area of what appears to be surface blooming in the lower left quadrant. Otherwise the work appears in good overall condition. Under ultraviolet light there appear to be no signs of retouching. Unframed. Please telephone the department on 020 7293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
"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."

'He shows the individual in his isolation, which is characteristic of our civilization, but he also shows that this condition is not only misery but a necessary part of the way to oneself. To be reminded of it is fascinating and disturbing at the same time.'
Heiner Schepers, 'The Isolated Figure', Tony Bevan, exh.cat., Kunstverein Lingen, 1990, p.4.

Black Table is one from a series of paintings produced in 1987 focusing on a solitary figure seated at a stark table which are differentiated by the striking colours used for the sitter's shirt and background. Frozen in motion and silhouetted against a dramatic orange backdrop, the present figure appears both removed from everyday reality and yet engaged in the ordinary monotony of daily routine and invites the viewer to question the very nature of modern life. The extraordinary contrasts of pigment have become highly characteristic of Bevan's style and are mixed directly onto the canvas to dazzling effect.