Howard Hodgkin (English, 1932-2017) Composition, A design fo...

Hammer

£20,000

Howard Hodgkin (English, 1932-2017)
Composition, A design for the ballet Pulcinella, 1986
Gouache and collage on paper on board

Executed in 1986 for a production of the ballet 'Pulchinella' produced by the Ballet Rambert, London. The music was by Stravinsky, the choreography was by Richard Alston and the front cloth, back-drops and costumes were by Howard Hodgkin.

Hodgkin writes as follows about his work for the decors and front cloth of the ballet Pulchinella:
For 'me [it] was to find some kind of visual language which was not literally representational, did not refer to the Commedia dell’arte and which did evoke Naples. The act drop and the costumes were the most difficult – also Picasso was always lurking over my shoulder, but, in so far as we all succeeded, it was Stravinsky that got us through'

Provenance:
Anthony d'Offay Gallery, London;
Acquired from the above by the present owner.

Dimensions:
(Frame) 23.25 in. (H) x 37.75 in. (W) 
(Board) 17.25 in. (H)  31.5 in. (W)