Lot 37

Private collection, Melbourne
Thence by descent

Hart, D., William Delafield Cook, Craftsman House, Sydney, 1998
In the 1960s, Delafield Cook was looking to move away from Abstract Expressionism and towards a more figurative approach. "A window, a fragment of latticework, the geometric slats of a pergola of the balustrade of a balcony, now begin to appear, suggesting new possibilities for anchoring, for framing, for structuring the picture plane. The best of these works reveal an increasing technical dexterity, combining rigour with a light touch, and sense of poetic intimacy." (p. 53)
In the mid 1960s, Delafield Cook produced a series of paintings associated with birds intersecting with a cage and hedge. Inspired by the evocative brushwork of Francis Bacon, amongst others, Delafield Cook became more adventurous with colour, using vivid yellows and greens for an eerie sense of drama.

RELATED WORK:
William Delafield Cook, Green Cage 1966, oil on canvas, 66 x 45.7cm, Private collection.