Among Australia’s most celebrated artists, John Perceval came of artistic age as part of the Angry Penguins. Credited with irreversibly changing the course of Australian art, this group, which also included Sidney Nolan and Arthur Boyd reconfigured bodies, landscapes and life in Australia.

In his role, Perceval offered breathtaking originality, liveliness and spontaneity. In a flurry of lines, his work - sometimes charming, sometimes disconcerting, engrosses the viewer. Nude Figure with Cherry Tree is a curious and evocative drawing depicting a nude figure alongside a blossoming cherry tree. Created in 1983, two years after the end of his marriage to fellow artist Anne Marie Hall, the scene is subtly animated by the presence of red ants over the figure—an unmistakable motif characteristic of the artist’s work from the 1980s. The composition merges classical elements with a sense of quiet surrealism, inviting contemplation of nature, vulnerability, and the passing of time.

Depicted in complimentary earthen tones of green and terracotta red and by one of Australia’s most collectible artists, Nude Figure with Cherry Tree would make a truly lovely, recognisable addition to your collection.

John PERCEVAL (1923 - 2000)
'Nude Figure with Cherry Tree' 1983
mixed media on paper
Image Size: 56 x 76 cm
Signed: Signed and dated lower right
Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition: Fair: Work of art that is intact but requires restoration, re-framing or some repair. The work shows some silverfish grazing to the paper support, typical of its age and history, while the chalk medium remains unaffected. The paper retains its smooth, calendared finish. Minor surface cleaning could reduce smudges and verso tape marks if desired, though a conservator has advised that more extensive cosmetic treatment is unnecessary. Overall, the drawing is stable, and these gentle traces of time form part of its lived history.

(c) John Perceval / Copyright Agency