Rhapsody

Richard Mayhew

American

Mayhew honed his improvisational skills as a jazz singer in New York, and his love of music is evident in his work. Mayhew cites jazz musicians Miles Davis and Cecil Taylor as creative influences, and many of his paintings have titles that allude to music, such as Rhapsody, Overture (2001) and Orchestration (2006).

Born
1924
Rhapsody by Richard Mayhew

When you hear music what do you see?

In Rhapsody, the central cluster of swaying trees is a riotous blaze of purple and plum tones, silhouetted against a glowing orange sky and behind a foreground foliage screen of green. Despite the pulsating energies generated by the combination of vibrant hues, the painting exudes a kind of calm, as color and form balance one another in perfect harmony.
Medium
Oil on canvas
Credit

Museum purchase, Volunteer Council Art Acquisition Fund

Item ID
2010.2
Dimensions
48 x 60 in. (121.9 x 152.4 cm)
Date
2002
Country
Artist name
Richard Mayhew
Artwork location