SOLDBathsheba
Unmounted (ref: 9451)
Pastel
12 x 8 1/4 in (30.5 x 20.8 cm)
SOLDProvenance: The Artist's family
Bathsheba was a later theme which evolved throughout the 1950s. Again it provided an opportunity for exploring the relationship between man and nature. Mahoney’s admiration for “Douanier” Rousseau is apparent in these works.
For drawing, Mahoney liked a textured paper, soft to the touch, such as Ingres, or still better, hand-made papers from firms such as Hayle Mill or Barcham Green. Occasionally he bought cheap sketchbooks from Woolworth’s because he found the paper so sympathetic as a surface for drawing. For his earliest drawings he used mainly B or 2B pencils, but he later preferred Black Prince or carbon pencils. He often used charcoal, adding white or red crayons to highlight drawings. Sometimes he combined these with conté crayons or pastels. For his later drawings he preferred pen and wash, taking great trouble to mix and dilute his inks until he achieved the required tone and colour. His drawing pens were either reservoir nibs in holders or else cartridge pens.
