Thea Proctor was an Australian artist and designer, renowned for being a tastemaker and strong advocate for modern art. In 1903, she moved to London where she built connections with fellow artists Charles Condor and Tom Roberts, absorbing inspiration from Japanese woodblocks and the costumes of the Ballet Russe. In 1912, she was the first female Australian artist to exhibit at the Venice Biennale.

‘The Spotted Jug’ (1925) is an original oil painting on silk. It was created upon Proctor’s return to Australia, likely when she lived in the Grosvenor Building in a “thoroughly modern” apartment that doubled as a studio and social practice. In 1925 she exhibited here alongside Margaret Preston, apparently resulting in the hurling of a cake. Preston was protesting the purchase of one of Proctor’s works by the Art Gallery of New South Wales over her own.

Proctor was known for paintings like this on silk, with another represented in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Luminous, delicate and vibrant, ‘Spotted Vase’ is at once art historically and aesthetically significant, testifying to an artist whose talents crossed visual domains. She is represented across public collections including at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Australia and National Portrait Gallery, representing a singular addition to collections of work by female Australian modernists.

Thea PROCTOR (1879 - 1966)
'The Spotted Jug' 1925
watercolour on silk
Image Size: 42 x 35 cm
Dimensions: 59 x 49 x 3 cm
Signed: Signed 'Thea Proctor' lower right

Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition: Very Good: Describes a work of art's image as Excellent, but may show some small signs of surrounding wear to paper or frame. There are no tears to paper margin or disruption to the paint surface.

(c) The Artist or Assignee