The Tyler Collection

The

Checklist of the exhibition

Three Towers No. 1

by Leonard French

M

y wife and I have undertaken to donate our art collection over time to become part of the University of Tasmania Fine Art Collection, together

with a fund that, inter alia, will finance future purchases. Begun in 1960, our collection includes paintings, drawings, graphics, sculptures and ceramics. Nearly all were produced in the twentieth century by artists in Australia, Britain, Europe, the United States and Africa. An important part is Romanian, obtained when I visited the country frequently in the period from 1973 to 1987, working for the International Monetary Fund.

By pure chance through a purchase of a painting seen in a gallery window, I became a close friend of a Romanian artist, Corneliu Petrescu, and his wife, Mariana.

They played very great roles in the formation of the collection. They introduced me to many of the best Romanian artists, some of whom in turn became personal friends. The Petrescus and other close artist friends helped me choose quality, representative works and gave me many as gifts. Corneliu Petrescu in particular was an artistic mentor as well as a friend. Without these artist friends, especially Corneliu and Mariana Petrescu, the Tyler Collection would not exist in its present form and it would not come to UTAS. It is appropriate therefore that this introductory exhibition

1. Illustrations of the Book of Job

By William Blake (1757−1827) Complete set of title and 21 plates on India paper laid on Whatman “Turkey Mill’ paper, 1825

9. Shore Mixed media on paper, 1994

2. Three Towers No. 1

By Leonard French (born 1928) Enamel and mixed media, probably 1960s

11. Theatre Boxes Mixed media on paper, 1997

3. The Sisters

By Arthur Boyd (1920−1999) Oil on canvas, mounted on hardboard, circa 1949

By Corneliu Petrescu (1924−2009)

10. Still Life with Onion Mixed media on paper, 1995

12. Byzantine Composition Mixed media on paper, 1998

The Sisters

by Arthur Boyd (detail of cover illustration)

University of Tasmania The fourth oldest university in Australia, the University of Tasmania has an international

13. Bryce Canyon Mixed media on hardboard, 1999

focus in addition to its commitment to contribute to the cultural, economic and social development of Tasmania. We celebrate this through all our disciplines, but none more

14. Balcony Mixed media on hardboard, 1999

so than fine art. We proudly display our art in staff offices, as well as in student and public spaces. Our campus galleries exhibit programs spanning all genres, and include

4. Self-portrait Mixed media on artist board, 1976

15. Shore Mixed media on paper, 2004

artists not only from Tasmania but from all corners of the world.

5. Portrait of wife Mariana Mixed media on artist board, 1976

16. Desert Mixed media on paper, 2004

Art Collection. The Tyler gift brings to it an international perspective and an unusual

6. Founders Mixed media on paper, 1973

17. Birthday card to Geoffrey Tyler Mixed media on paper, 2004

The pieces in this first exhibition offer a glimpse into the collection’s significance

7. Winter Mixed media on artist board, 1984

18. Self-portrait Mixed media on paper, 2004

Over the years, we have been fortunate to add to our already substantial Fine richness. We will be challenged and inspired by the breadth of their contribution. and the experience that lies ahead.

It is with great humility that we introduce the Tyler Collection as a wonderful gesture from one of our graduates, and we look forward to the ongoing enjoyment of this very personal gift.

8. Landscape Mixed media on artist board, 1978

—Professor Daryl Le Grew, Vice-Chancellor and President, November 2010

is in part an exhibition of Petrescu’s works, to recognise his formative influence.

– Geoffrey Tyler

Tyler Collection

University of Tasmania This booklet uses paper produced from 50% post consumer recycled waste and 50% fibre sourced from responsibly managed forests. Printed with vegetable-based inks and in accordance with ISO 14001.

The University of Tasmania Fine Art Collection includes more than 2400 works of contemporary and historic art in a wide range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, printmaking and digital imaging. Acquisitions have been made since 1967 through State and Commonwealth funding, University funding, the Cultural Gifts Program and individual bequests and donations.

Corneliu Petrescu (1924−2009) Corneliu Petrescu was born in Slanic, Romania, on 23 June 1924.

Despite his interest and talent in art, his parents persuaded him to become a physician. He obtained his MD at Bucharest University and subsequently became a research doctor in a medical institute in Bucharest.

His interest in art remained intense, however, and he studied painting privately with leading Romanian artists. By the mid-1950s

The Australian Paintings and the Blake Engravings

Self-portrait, 2004

Mariana, 1976

he began exhibiting paintings and woodcuts. His first one-man show was in Bucharest in 1964 and thereafter he had frequent solo exhibitions in Romania, the Netherlands, West Germany and the United States. From 1976 he ceased medical research and devoted

Living in the United States, I had little chance to collect Australian art.

the rest of his life entirely to painting.

Of the four Australian works in the collection, two are in this exhibition.

His work is heavily influenced by the traditions and techniques

The Sisters by Arthur Boyd is an important, relatively early work, probably

of Byzantine art, which remained important in Romania long after

painted in western Victoria around 1949. Leonard French’s Three Towers

they had vanished from Western Europe. He used gold leaf

No. 1 was painted in Greece probably in the 1960s.

extensively, and religious themes. Additionally, he always used

William Blake’s twenty-two proof engravings illustrating the Book

collage techniques, and gradually these became more important

of Job are Blake’s greatest graphic work. Over a period of years, he did

in his works, especially using old letters and papers. In contrast

a series of multiple image representations of the Job story in drawings

to Romanian landscapes, the beauty of the desert regions in

and watercolours. The finally engraved series was the culmination and

America’s southwest, experienced during two vacations there

one of Blake’s last and greatest works. This Job set was among my

in 1976 and 1978 with Geoffrey Tyler, led him to paint desert

earliest acquisitions.

landscapes based on that region throughout the rest of his life.

Balcony, 1999

In a continuing correspondence, Petrescu sent a long series – Geoffrey Tyler

of small paintings as gifts, including birthday and Christmas cards, four of which are included in the exhibition.

Above Book of Job, plates by William Blake

Shore, 2004

Theatre Boxes