The Joy of the Worlds
About this artwork
This work was painted in Totnes, Devon, where the artist moved in the autumn of 1936. Collins was influenced by scientific and biological developments, such as recent advances in the illustration of cells and by astronomical photographs. Among the biomorphic forms in the painting stands a man with a staff and halo. He appears elsewhere in Collins's work as 'The Pilgrim.' The surrounding form can therefore be seen as a protective womb for this new image of man. The use of green is unusual in Collins's work at this time.
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title:The Joy of the Worlds
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accession number:GMA 4372
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artist:
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object type:
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materials:Oil on wood
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date created:1937
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measurements:127.00 x 127.00 cm (framed: 145.00 x 145.00 x 5.30 cm)
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credit line:Bequeathed by Mrs Elisabeth Collins through the Art Fund 2001
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copyright:© Tate, London 2017
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photographer:Antonia Reeve
Cecil Collins
Cecil Collins
Cecil Collins was born in Plymouth. He drew and painted from an early age and after working briefly as an engineer (like his father), Collins enrolled at Plymouth School of Art. He later studied at the Royal College of Art, London, from 1927 to 1931. Collins painted visionary subjects, inspired…
