Turning Form

Catalogue entry

T02235 TURNING FORM 1959

Inscribed on base of bronze in punched letters and numbers ‘D.A.M./59/2’ and in pencil on underside of wooden base ‘Turning Form/Size 56" 1959/Denis Mitchell/No 2/3’
Bronze, 56 × 7 × 11 9/16 (142.2 × 17.8 × 29.3) on wooden base 8 1/4 (21) high
Bequeathed by Miss E. M. Hodgkins 1977
Prov: Bought by Miss Hodgkins from the Penwith Gallery, 1959
Exh: Summer Exhibition, Penwith Gallery, St Ives, 1959 (75)

‘Turning Form’ was sand cast in solid bronze by Holman's Foundry, St Just, in an edition of three plus one for the artist. The Tate cast is No.2; No.1 belongs to Manchester University, No.3 to an English private collector and the artist's copy is in a private collection in the USA.

The artist told the compiler (8 November 1977) that in executing ‘Turning Form’ he owed something to the painting by John Wells ‘Aspiring Forms’ 1950 (also in the Miss E. M. Hodgkins Bequest). The plaster was made at his home at that time, 2 Sea View Terrace, St Ives, and was based on a drawing as are all his sculptures.

Published in:
The Tate Gallery 1976-8: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions, London 1979

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