Romilly’s artworks at Christie's Old Masters viewing, 1 to 14 July 2023
Sandra Romito gave me a cotton bag with nails. She explained that they came from old master paintings after the frames had been removed for examination and conservation. She thought I might have a use for them. I saw, almost immediately, what they could become. I’m used to thinking in this way: for many years, part of my practice has been to work with metal detecting finds, making jewellery and small objects from them (the collection is called Newfoundland).
Landscape
Landscape is represented by bushes, trees and thickets made from silver, gold and diamonds. The horsehair could be read as grass or perhaps a horse in the landscape. While I was working, I saw on my desk a piece of coral, from a vintage necklace, it had a similar shape to the top of the nails – I decided this could stand in for the FAKE painting (that must occasionally sneak in?).
Religious
from left to right:
Yellow baroque pearl representing a cloud beneath the Virgin Mary ascending
A golden halo
An altar cloth made from fine silver
A gold crucifix
The FAKE
The Holy Spirit represented by silver feathers
A silver crown of thorns