Art UK has updated its cookies policy. By using this website you are agreeing to the use of cookies. To find out more read our updated Use of Cookies policy and our updated Privacy policy.

Still Life on Black Table

© estate of William Scott 2024. Photo credit: The Pier Arts Centre

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

This abstracted image of a domestic table top is treated by Scott as a vehicle for exploring formal composition. The forms of the pots, pans, cups and utensils are simplified and flattened allowing Scott to arrange them as areas of tone, colour and texture across the canvas surface.

From the 1950s onwards, Scott used still life subject matter to explore abstraction. His palette of colours became increasingly opaque and non-naturalistic. Scott's use of textured areas of impasto combine with his accent on pictorial flatness to create paintings that balance between representation and abstraction.

The Pier Arts Centre

Stromness

Title

Still Life on Black Table

Date

1956

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 51 x W 102 cm

Accession number

PAC 58

Acquisition method

gift from Margaret Gardiner, 1979

Work type

Painting

Inscription description

1. 'NO.58 / Black Plastic / cover'. 2. exhibition label for Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums (Pier Gallery Collection 1978). 3. exhibition label for Tate (Pier Gallery Collection 20th Sept-29th Oct 1978). 4. gallery label for The Hanover Gallery, London. 5. exhibition label for Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Out of Place: Works from the Pier Arts Centre collection). 6. exhibition label (artist name and title).

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

The Pier Arts Centre

Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney Islands KW16 3AA Scotland

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue