Description
This self portrait in pastel captures John Salvana’s attention to detail and superb use of light. Salvana was a highly skilled artist, as commented on by his fellow Art Society artists. His ability in particular to capture an atmosphere or create a mood through the use of light was exemplary.
John (also known as ‘Jack’) Salvana was born in Ironbark, NSW, in 1871, and studied at the Royal Art Society School in Sydney and in London.
He is best known for his impressionistic landscapes, usually of the NSW coastal area. Salvana was awarded many art prizes, and his work is represented in several state and regional collections.
John Salvana’s dream was to provide a rural centre with an art gallery, so that young children and those with an interest in art might be encouraged to study it, and to learn from viewing original artworks at first hand. Tamworth Regional Gallery was formed from this inspiration. Salvana died in 1956.
History
John Salvana Collection,
Tamworth Regional Gallery.
Significance
Provenance: Gift of John Salvana.
Signed and dated: L.R.C. - J. Salvana, 1912.