Skip to content

Review build — the catalogue is a working document and records are subject to continuing research.

Alec & Barbara FlemingPaintings, drawings and works on paper

Reference photograph, catalogue sheet 1

Cat. 3 · Study

Self Portrait – Head, Alec Fleming

Assigned title

Attributed to Alec Fleming

Possibly mid-1960s, in style

Medium
Oil on hardboard
Dimensions
30 cm × 40 cmAs recorded in the catalogue
Date
Possibly mid-1960s, in styleApproximate date suggested on stylistic grounds; not documented.
Signature
No signature
Catalogue no.
Cat. 3
Source
Catalogue, entry 3
Status
Private collection
Enquiries regarding this work

Description

Head-and-shoulders portrait study of a man with a beard, in a cream open-necked shirt, against a terracotta background.

Commentary

Painted in a loose style, with prominent impasto strokes and a rapid application of paint. It seems to be an alla prima study, most likely from life, and possibly a self portrait of the artist. Possibly mid-1960s in style.

Attribution

Attributed to Alec Fleming.

Given to Alec Fleming in the catalogue. The work is unsigned; the reverse carries only the ‘A Fleming’ marker.

Catalogue wording: “Alec Fleming, no signature”

How attributions are worded

Signature and inscriptions

No signature

Verso

‘A Fleming’ in marker, in block capitals.

  • Marker, block capitals: ‘A Fleming’

The reverse is marked “A Fleming” in block capitals. Many boards in the collection carry this marking, and some of them are considered to be by Barbara Fleming. The marking may record ownership rather than authorship and is not treated here as evidence of attribution.

Condition

Fair condition. Unvarnished. Some areas of primer show through at the edges of the painting; this is likely due to the application of the oil paint rather than to deterioration.

Provenance and research

Research notes

  • The title is assigned. The catalogue describes the work as possibly a self portrait.

Further works

Alec Fleming