Jef Banc

Pair-Bearing Matrix

1956

© Jef Banc / DACS 2020

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Not on display

Artist: Jef Banc born 1930
Original title: Matrice gémellipare
Medium: Mixed media on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 730 × 600 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by Mr and Mrs Charles Damiano 1960
Reference: T00357

Catalogue entry

Jef Banc born 1930

T00357 Matrice gémellipare (Pair-bearing Matrix) 1956

Inscribed 'Jef Banc 56' b.l.
Oil on canvas, 28 3/4 x 23 5/8 (73 x 60)
Presented by Mr and Mrs Charles Damiano 1960
Prov: Mr and Mrs Charles Damiano, London (purchased from the artist through the Grabowski Gallery)
Exh: Banc, Grabowski Gallery, London, May 1960 (72), listed simply as 'Oil on canvas 73 x 60cms 1956'

The artist has written (letter of 13 August 1975): 'In 1956, I embarked on a long period in which I expressed my highly personal vision of the origins of life.

'I only gradually lit upon the biological cell and at that period I came to express myself through exploring the image of the depths of the sea and the biological process.

'I registered this painting under the photographic reference T 20F 41 56.

'But if I had to give it a title today I should call it "MATRICE GEMELLIPARE".'

Published in:
Ronald Alley, Catalogue of the Tate Gallery's Collection of Modern Art other than Works by British Artists, Tate Gallery and Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London 1981, p.32, reproduced p.32