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The Two Windows IV

Artist: Philipson, Robin James, Sir, PPRSA RSA · 1916-1992

The artist executed his first painting which featured a stained glass window in 1958. The inspiration apparently came from a visit to Amiens Cathedral in France and was to become a recurring motif for Philipson. William Buchanan in his text for the publication that accompanied Philipson's "Cockfight Rosewindow" exhibition mounted by the Scottish Arts Council in 1970 wrote: "In this series of paintings Robin Philipson, placing the circle within the rectangle of the picture plane, comes nearest to completely abstract art. It is as near as he, after considered debate within himself, chooses to go." The artist also exhibited a painting titled Two Windows IV at the 1962 RSA Annual Exhibition (cat.225) that was exhibited in Room III, Oils (£200). The series was important also for introducing watercolour as a medium into Philipson's oeuvre, where oil had previously held total sway. More than half of the rosewindow series are watercolours. "This was not a change of medium for change's sake" continued Buchanana (op cit.) "The luminosity of white paper shining through a wash of colour is similar to light shining through stained glass."