MacDiarmid, Douglas Kerr, 1922- :Figures at night.

Shows a man and a woman (Douglas MacDiarmid and Helen Hitchings) leaning on bridge in Bowen Street looking up Parliament St. The house on the top right still exists (1988) but most houses shown were removed for the construction of the motorway, 1970s.

One of a group of four paintings done in 1950. The artist was experimenting with using aluminium paint over hardboard as a base for oils. The paintings were all in his one-man show, 1950, at Helen Hitchings Gallery. The Library holds three of the four paintings.

MacDiarmid did a preliminary sketch for this painting, in his notebook, late one night, followed by preliminary watercolours, all now destroyed. (Information from donor).

Title and other information inscribed on verso by Helen Hitchings. Hitchings, on donation, identified the two people as herself and MacDiarmid. Douglas MacDiarmid, in correspondence with the Library in 2011, stated that the male figure was much more solidly-built than MacDiarmid himself in 1950.

Inscriptions: Recto - bottom left - Douglas MacDiarmid.

Quantity: 1 oil.

Physical Description: Oil on hardboard prepared with aluminium paint, image 907 x 605 mm.

Alternative form available: Original re-photographed 4 Feb 2008