John McLean Acrylic Painting on Canvas "River"

Item Details

John McLean (British, b. 1939)
River, 1980s
Acrylic on canvas
Unsigned (letter of authenticity from the artist)
40’ W x 30’ H

Provenance
The Lucy Baker and Kenworth Moffett Collection of New New Group Painters

An acrylic painting on canvas by Color Field artist John McLean (British; b. 1939), created in the 1980s. This work features large red and yellow circles and a white slash rendered with large gestural brushstrokes, suspended against a vibrant blue plane. Although this work is unsigned, the artist has kindly verified the work as being by his hand and that the Color Field Artist ‘Friedel Dzubas liked this painting.’. A letter signed by John McLean to Lucy Baker confirming the authenticity of this work is included with the painting. The composition remains unframed.

John McLean studied at St. Andrews University from 1957-1962 and at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London from 1963-1966. He taught at various art schools in London from 1966. He is known for his large-scale painting in which bold colors take precedence and are often applied spontaneously and rhythmically onto the canvas. He was a friend of Modern Art critic Clement Greenberg with whom he exchanged many letters. McLean’s work has been collected and exhibited by numerous institutions including the National Galleries of Scotland; the Tate Gallery, London; and the Boca Raton Museum of Art, among many others.

Condition

- faint circular brown stain present to lower right; small black stain present to lower left; small spots of accretions scattered throughout painting.

Dimensions

Item #

18DCC238-517