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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 8

Cat. 31 · Painting

Still Life- Vegetables With Cooking Pot

Assigned title

Attributed to Alec Fleming

Date not recorded

Medium
Oil on canvas, laid on hardboard
Dimensions
50.5 cm × 40.5 cmAs recorded in the catalogue
Date
Date not recorded
Signature
Not recorded
Catalogue no.
Cat. 31* (asterisk explained under Verso)
Source
Catalogue, entry 31*
Status
Private collection
Enquiries regarding this work

Description

A large green cabbage, dominates an array of of vegetables and fruit, set out on a wooden board, with a bottle, cork screw, wooden cruet and an iron long handled cooking pot. Copper pans hang on the wall behind.

Commentary

The strong natural palette, defined outlines and well delineated tones suggest a mature and confident painter. The subject matter is likely rural France with the influence of more traditional French still life painters such as J S Chardin, evident in the composition. The confident use of impasto, strong painted outlines, shimmering colours on the wall and convincing composition, suggest a painting from life, in Alec Fleming’s later period in France.

Attribution

Attributed to Alec Fleming.

Given to Alec Fleming in the catalogue.

Catalogue wording: “A Fleming”

How attributions are worded

Verso

A Fleming in block capitals- Marker pen.

Catalogue no. 31* — The asterisk against this catalogue number refers to the catalogue introduction’s note on the “A Fleming” marking on the reverse of many boards, reproduced below. It flags the caveat; it is not itself evidence of authorship.

Source note, catalogue introduction

Many boards are marked “A Fleming” in marker pen, in block capitals, on the reverse. Some of these may be by Barbara Fleming.

It is unlikely that the same marker pen, in the same hand and in the same position on the board, would have been used over several decades. In places the marker is written over older paint marks, staining and scarring, which suggests a later application — potentially at a single date, to denote ownership rather than attribution, and probably by Alec Fleming.

Condition

The paint surface has maintained its integrity, The canvas is however detaching slightly at the edges all round.

Provenance and research

Research notes

  • The title is marked [assigned] in the catalogue.

Further works

Alec Fleming