Tom Phillips

Music Drawing

1963

Not on display

Artist: Tom Phillips born 1937
Medium: Charcoal on paper
Dimensions: Support: 559 x 762 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Purchased 1974
Reference: T01933

Catalogue entry

T01933 MUSIC DRAWING 1963

Inscribed on back of mount ‘Music Drawing 1963 Tom Phillips’

Charcoal on paper mounted on board, 22×30 (55.9×76.2)

Purchased from Marlborough Fine Art Limited (Grant-in-Aid) 1974

Tom Phillips told the compiler (7 May 1975) that this drawing was the first of a series of about 10 large drawings in which the artist tried to record in the most loose and generalised way, his view of listening to a piece of music. Reading the drawing from left to right is the ‘equivalent’ of the passing of time.

T01933 was not ‘about’ a particular piece of music, though some of the other drawings in the series were, in addition to being much tighter.

This drawing was made ‘more by erasing than by positively applying charcoal’. In his exhibition at the A.I.A. Gallery, Lisle Street, London, in November 1966, Phillips included a music drawing (No.9 in the catalogue) which was not T01933.

The artist describes himself as being an amateur composer and has written an opera and instrumental piece.

Published in:
The Tate Gallery 1974-6: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions, London 1978