At peace that eve...
Primary Artist
Ethleen Palmer (1906–1958)
Title
Date made
1949
Place made
Australia, Australia, New South Wales View on map Close map
Category
Print type
stencil
Technique
screenprint, printed in colour, from multiple stencils
Matrix size
30.4 x 27.8 cm (printed image)
Support
thick oatmeal style paper
Support size
48.2 x 38.9 cm (sheet)
Manufacturers mark
no manufacturer's mark
State
published state
Impression
undesignated impression
Edition information
edition of 15
Inscriptions or device by artist or designated agent
Signed lower right below printed image in black pencil, 'Ethleen Palmer'. Dated lower left below printed image in black pencil, 'Serigraph 1949'. Titled lower centre below printed image in black pencil, 'At peace that eve...'. Inscribed lower left below printed image in black pencil, 'Ed 15'
Subject description
Image of budda sitting in forest clearing with animals at his feet.
Collection
National Gallery of Australia
IRN
39074
Accession number
76.722.10
Accession method
Purchase
Meeting
Meeting 4, 1976/77 (1976-10-12)
Provenance
Purchased by the Australian National Gallery, from Thirty Victoria Street [gallery], Sydney, 12 October 1976, part of a group of 65 prints by various artists.
Credit line
Purchased 1976
Country of context
Australia
Notes
The title of this print 'At peace that eve...' is taken from a line in 16th stanza of "Book the Sixth' of 'The Light Asia' by Edwin Arnold
Whom -- as he passed into its ample shade,
Cloistered with columned dropping stems, and roofed
With vaults of glistening green -- the conscious earth
Worshipped with waving grass and sudden flush
Of flowers about his feet. The forest-boughs
Bent down to shade him; from the river sighed
Cool wafts of wind laden with lotus-scents
Breathed by the water-gods. Large wondering eyes
Of woodland creatures -- panther, boar, and deer --
At peace that eve, gazed on his face benign
From cave and thicket. From its cold cleft wound
The mottled deadly snake, dancing its hood
In honor of our Lord; bright butterflies
Fluttered their vans, azure and green and gold,
To be his fan-bearers; the fierce kite dropped
Its prey and screamed; the striped palm-squirrel raced
From stem to stem to see; the weaver-bird
Chirped from her swinging nest; the lizard ran;
The koïl sang her hymn; the doves flocked round;
Even the creeping things were 'ware and glad.
Voices of earth and air joined in one song,
Which unto ears that hear said, "Lord and Friend
Lover and Saviour! Thou who hast subdued
Angers and prides, desires and fears and doubts,
Thou that for each and all hast given thyself,
Pass to the Tree! The sad world blesseth thee
Who art the Buddh that shall assuage her woes.
Pass, Hailed and Honored! strive thy last for us,
King and high Conqueror! thine hour is come;
This is the Night the ages waited for!"
Creators
Palmer, Ethleen. | (1906–1958) Australian | South African | Female | artist