Graphite and watercolour on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/augustus-john-om-1362" aria-label="More by Augustus John OM" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Augustus John OM</a>
Nirvana
Presented by Sir William Rothenstein in memory of Gerard Chowne 1917
actions: postures and motions
adults
Buddhism
contemplation
emotions and human qualities
emotions, concepts and ideas
looking up
people
religion and belief
religions
standing
woman
paper unique graphite watercolour
7 April 2011 – 8 June 2014
2014-06-08
7 April 2011 – 8 June 2014
2014-06-08
2011-04-07
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2011-04-07
Modern Print Room
Collection based display
Nirvana
support: 411 × 305 mm
Presented by Sir William Rothenstein in memory of Gerard Chowne 1917
<p><b>N03198</b> NIRVANA 1908
<br/> 
<br/>Inscr. ‘John’ b.r.
<br/>Pencil and watercolour, 16×8 1/2 (41×22).
<br/>Presented by Sir William Rothenstein in memory of Gerard Chowne 1917.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> (?) C.A.S., <i>Loan Exhibition</i>, Manchester, winter 1911 (169).
<br/><i>Repr:</i> <i>Tate Gallery Illustrations</i>, 1928, pl.182; <i>Picture Post</i>, ii, 18 March 1939, p.46.</p>
<p>In the summer of 1908 John was staying at Dielette, a little village on the Normandy coast. This <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/d/drawing" title="Glossary definition for 'Drawing'"><span>drawing</span></a> was done there and later served as a sketch for an oil <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a> (repr. <i>Burlington Magazine</i>, XVII, 1910, p.228) which was shown at the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/n/new-english-art-club" title="Glossary definition for 'New English Art Club'"><span>N.E.A.C</span></a>. in 1909 (31). It was exhibited as ‘Girl on the Cliff’, but was later renamed ‘Nirvana’ by Lady Ottoline Morrell, to whom it once belonged. The drawing is also very likely to have been known at one time as ‘Girl on a Cliff’ and was probably exhibited under this title at the C.A.S. <i>Loan Exhibition</i> in Manchester, 1911.</p>
<p>In Buddhist theology Nirvana is the state of perfect beatitude. It is the state where all passions are dissolved, the extinction of individual existence and absorption into the Supreme Being.</p>
<p><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, I
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-10-05T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: postures and motions adults Buddhism contemplation emotions and human qualities emotions, concepts and ideas looking up people religion and belief religions standing woman