Robert Medley

Summer Eclogue No. 1: Cyclists

1950

© The estate of Robert Medley

License this image

On loan

MK Gallery (Milton Keynes, UK): The Lie of the Land

Artist: Robert Medley 1905–1994
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Unconfirmed: 1295 x 1600 mm
frame: 1370 x 1676 x 62 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Purchased 1992
Reference: T06549

Display caption

As well as a painter, Medley was a theatre designer, designing sets for TS Eliot and WH Auden - who was his lover - in the 1930s. Initially influenced by Bloomsbury and Surrealism, he later became concerned 'with the movement of human figures in space'. This is one of several paintings inspired by weekend parties of cyclists at Gravesend on the Thames. Its treatment of bodies in motion reflects Medley's long association with the theatre, while the word eclogue, an ancient form of pastoral poem, turns the modern scene into a timeless moment. Exhibited at the 1951 Festival of Britain, it adds an important early work to our collection of Medley's paintings.

Gallery label, August 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

leisure and pastimes(7,743)
- recreational activities(2,909)
  - cycling(104)
nature(46,524)
- seasons(4,486)
  - summer(1,405)
- water: inland(11,674)
  - bank(816)
  - river(8,350)
objects(23,664)
- furnishings(3,126)
  - bench(244)
people(35,850)
- adults(23,435)
  - figure(6,947)
- groups(5,518)
  - group(4,529)
places(42,589)
- UK natural features(5,689)
  - River Thames(761)
- UK countries and regions(25,025)
  - England(19,759)
  - England, South East(6,097)
  - England, Southern(9,228)
- UK counties(20,143)
  - Kent(1,149)
- UK cities, towns and villages(13,117)
  - Gravesend(14)
society(35,456)
- transport: land(3,081)
  - bicycle(198)
abstraction(9,907)
- from recognisable sources(4,521)
  - landscape(1,228)
emotions, concepts and ideas(16,926)
- formal qualities(12,946)
  - dynamism(52)
  - movement(178)

You might like

Sir Roger De Grey, ‘Wrotham Hill’ 1953

Sir Roger De Grey Wrotham Hill

1953

William Townsend, ‘South Bank’ 1948

William Townsend South Bank

1948

Ivon Hitchens, ‘Woodland, Vertical and Horizontal’ 1958

Ivon Hitchens Woodland, Vertical and Horizontal

1958

Robert Medley, ‘Figuration on White’ 1963

Robert Medley Figuration on White

1963

William Townsend, ‘Hop Alleys’ 1951–2

William Townsend Hop Alleys

1951–2

Ivon Hitchens, ‘View from Terrace: Ashdown Forest’ 1938–41

Ivon Hitchens View from Terrace: Ashdown Forest

1938–41

Martin Froy, ‘Two Figures Summer ‘61’ 1961

Martin Froy Two Figures Summer ‘61

1961

Ivon Hitchens, ‘Study for the Mural Painting at Cecil Sharp House, London’ c.1950

Ivon Hitchens Study for the Mural Painting at Cecil Sharp House, London

c.1950

Sir Walter Russell, ‘High Tide, Blakeney’ exhibited 1938

Sir Walter Russell High Tide, Blakeney

exhibited 1938

Sir Lawrence Gowing, ‘Path with Elder and Hazel’ 1959

Sir Lawrence Gowing Path with Elder and Hazel

1959

Graham Sutherland OM, ‘Horned Forms’ 1944

Graham Sutherland OM Horned Forms

1944

Philip Connard, ‘Winter at Richmond’ 1938

Philip Connard Winter at Richmond

1938

Sir Stanley Spencer, ‘Dinner on the Hotel Lawn’ 1956–7

Sir Stanley Spencer Dinner on the Hotel Lawn

1956–7

Victor Pasmore, ‘The Quiet River: The Thames at Chiswick’ 1943–4

Victor Pasmore The Quiet River: The Thames at Chiswick

1943–4

Victor Pasmore, ‘The Hanging Gardens of Hammersmith, No. 1’ 1944–7

Victor Pasmore The Hanging Gardens of Hammersmith, No. 1

1944–7

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art