This work was inspired by a Clematis Montana growing at Leyswood. My interest in abstract is in trying to do something more than imitate, Monnington explained in an interview for the Church Times, (30 December 1966): I think it is possible that, through a more abstract approach, one can get nearer to the underlying nature of reality. A still life entitled Clematis - exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1959 (34) - was possibly the point of departure for this more abstract interpretation. This work is closely related to the ceiling of the Mary Harris Memorial Chapel in its colour and construction. Bristol and Exeter were undoubtedly instrumental in Monningtons pursuit of ‘Geometric’ paintings (a term he preferred to Abstracts). When the Tate purchased Monnington’s Square Design (1967) he spoke of his abstract paintings as “direct descendants from my ceiling painting in the Council House, Bristol, which was my first departure from purely representational painting. Since them I have been increasingly interested in the subdivisions of surface areas contained in equilateral rectangels (squares) and rectangles derived from square roots. These two-dimensional mathematical relationships suggest to me dimensions in depth, and provide a discipline which at the present time I find as necessary and interesting as that imposed previously in representational painting... You can cut out the blurb if you wish, but I was trying for my own edification to put into words what I think I have been trying to do in the last ten years”, (letter of 12th June 1968)

In a gilded frame set onto a white gesso board with gilded outer moulding, glazed.

Monnington's studies for his 'Geometric Paintings' (as he preferred to call them) are works which he crafted meticulously. He frequently reworked the same design over and over again before producing a version in tempera. 'I do feel that as President of the R.A. I should show at least one painting there a year .. I take a long time to resolve a painting problem. I take a year to do one painting because I make innumerable studies preparing the way' (Sunday Express, 19 Oct 1969).

Monnington was significantly the first President of the Royal Academy to paint abstracts, and inevitably his work was not always well received:

'The President is indeed a charming man but his work is an embarrassment. I can only recommend it to some linoleum manufacturer.' So wrote Terence Mullaly, reviewing the Royal Academy Summer Show (Daily Telegraph, 28 April 1967)

Unlike his predecessors, Monnington was prepared to throw open to debate questions about contemporary art. 'I happen to paint abstracts, but surely what matters is not whether a work is abstract or representative, but whether it has merit. If those who visit exhibitions - and this applies to artists as well as to the public - would come without preconceptions, would apply to art the elementary standards they apply in other spheres, they might glimpse new horizons. They might ask themselves: Is this work distinguished or is it commonplace? Fresh and original or uninspired, derivative and dull? Is it modest or pretentious?' (Marjorie Bruce-Milne, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 1967). At the same time Monnington was keen to defend traditional values. 'You cannot be a revolutionary and kick against the rules unless you learn first what you are kicking against. Some modern art is good, some bad, some indifferent. It might be common, refined or intelligent. You can apply the same judgements to it as you can to traditional works,' (interview with Colin Frame, undated newspaper clipping, 1967).